Senior DUP sources said Paisley, the local MP, would have "absolutely no problem" attending the funeral, except that it's likely to be held tomorrow or Tuesday when the Stormont Assembly is in session after its four-year suspension.

The sources strongly rejected accusations that Paisley's political and religious beliefs prevented him attending a Catholic's funeral. He has been invited by the McIlveen family.

Michael, 15, died after a brutal beating by loyalists last weekend. Paisley knows the family because he helped get them rehoused in Ballymena after they were ordered out of Antrim's Rathenraw Estate by the IRA several years ago.

A senior DUP source told the Sunday Tribune: "Ian's heart goes out to the McIlveens. He has prayed with them on the phone and wants to visit them, but in a private and dignified manner . . . not amidst a media frenzy.

"He would also like to attend the funeral but, as leader of the largest party in the Assembly, it would be hard for him to leave Stormont on Monday and Tuesday. Ian wouldn't take part in a Mass, but visiting the home of a bereaved Catholic family or walking in the cortege is completely different. Ian has attended Catholic funerals before. He was at the funeral of a Catholic police sergeant."

DUP MP Gregory Campbell has already visited the McIlveens. Campbell said: "I received a good reception. Mrs McIlveen was overwhelmed by grief. It was as if she'd been crying for so long she was drained of all emotion. When a child has died, there are usually stories in the wake house of the things they got up to.

There was nothing like that.

"I told Mrs McIlveen I didn't know what to say or do to help.

I felt for her so very much."

Meanwhile, Bebo, the internet social networking site, has appointed a member of staff to monitor and censor content related to Michael's murder.

In the aftermath of his death on Monday night, abusive comments and death threats were posted on the webpages of people whom McIlveen's friends and acquaintances claimed were linked to his murder.