Ahern appeals for calm in North after rioting

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern last night appealed for calm in the North and said community and political leaders had a crucial role in ensuring tensions over marches don’t spill over into violence.

Speaking after PSNI officers confirmed they fired a number of plastic bullet rounds during disturbances on Tuesday night, Mr Ahern asked all sides to continue to “be responsible as they were yesterday”.

“I think it was inevitable to have some youth troubles but all in all yesterday was a success,” he said.

Tuesday’s rioting in the nationalist Ardoyne area of the city left some 80 police officers and seven civilians injured.

The clashes broke out after police used water cannon to disperse crowds who had gathered to protest at a contentious Orange march through the area.

However, Mr Ahern said the day had largely passed off peacefully since potentially dangerous stand-offs had been headed off by “sensible policing and the work of community activists and local politicians”.

“The local community and political leaders ... they played their role and I’d like to acknowledge the Trojan work they did seeking to calm, manage and control events on the street. Without their good work the situation last night would have been far worse,” he said.

The PSNI was criticised for firing plastic bullets for the first time in three years.

Mr Ahern said he regretted the use of the rounds but he was happy that overall “it was a good day’s work done by everybody”.