NORTHERN Ireland must not be allowed to go back to the “dark place of sectarian murders and political discord”, Irish premier Micheal Martin warned yesterday.
Speaking on the 23rd anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, the Taoiseach said there was an onus on politicians to make sure this “spiral back” to violence does not happen. His comments came after 14 more police officers were injured in another night of unrest on Friday, bringing the total number of officers injured to 88.
Police were pelted with petrol bombs and masonry during three hours of disorder in the Atlantic Road area of Coleraine, Londonderry, where a crowd of about 40 people, many of them wearing masks, attempted to block the road by setting fire to pallets.
In a separate incident at Tiger’s Bay, a loyalist area in north Belfast, police were also attacked with missiles and a car was set on fire during sustained rioting, with three teenagers arrested.
Speaking about the 1998 peace agreement, Martin said: “Perhaps its most visible success is that a whole generation of young people have grown up not knowing or experiencing the violence that accompanied the troubles.
“We owe it to the agreement generation and indeed future generations not to spiral back to that dark place of sectarian murders and political discord.”
He added: “There is now a particular onus on those of us who currently hold the responsibility of political leadership to step forward and play our part and ensure that this cannot happen.
“I am determined to work with the British Government, the Executive and all political parties to protect the Good Friday Agreement, in all its parts.”
The recent violence that has erupted in Northern Ireland has many causes. However anger about post-Brexit trading rules has been cited as one of the factors – reinforcing feeling among Unionists that they are being cut off from the rest of the UK.
The disorder in Coleraine started at about 7.45pm when police officers had two petrol bombs thrown at them.
Five more petrol bombs were thrown when more resources were deployed into the area. Masonry and other missiles were also thrown at officers, causing damage to some police vehicles.
At about 10.45pm, officers had dispersed the crowd and restored order.
North Area commander, Chief Superintendent Davy Beck, said: “The senseless disorder we saw unfold in a residential area in Coleraine has achieved nothing but leave people petrified in their homes.
“Such reckless criminal activity has only served to harm the local community by those who deliberately chose to engage in such disorder.”
He added: “I want to make a direct appeal to parents, guardians and community leaders to use their influence to ensure we do not see a repeat of such ugly scenes.
“This is not wanted by anyone and does not represent the local community who we know just want to live in peace. I want to reassure the community that we will continue to work to keep people safe and those who engaged in last night’s disorder should be warned that an investigation is under way and evidence gathered will now be reviewed and those identified will face the full rigour of the law.”
Three teenagers, all aged 14, were arrested at Tiger’s Bay following the disorder on Friday and have been released pending further inquiries.
During the rioting, which started shortly after 5pm, petrol bombs and masonry, including roof tiles, were thrown at police.
There was an attempt to hijack vehicles on Limestone Road and, on North Queen Street, a car was hijacked and set on fire and pushed towards police lines.
Leaders in Northern Ireland had feared the chaos that has plagued the region in recent days would continue into the weekend.
Loyalists had urged their communities to end any protests as a mark of respect for the Duke of Edinburgh, who died on Friday.
Clergy from across Northern Ireland’s traditional dividing lines also put on a demonstration of unity to urge an end to the recent violence.
A Catholic and a Church of Ireland bishop were among those who came together for an ecumenical service on Friday before walking together to the peace wall gate.
The Rev Colin Duncan, of Shankill and Woodvale Methodist Church, said: “We’re here to give a show of unity that together we are making a stand and a voice against the violence that we’re seeing on the streets, a violence that serves no practical function or purpose at all.
“We are coming together to show that we along with others are taking a united stand against the violence we are seeing on the streets.”
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