Kelly accuses Flanagan of 'lack of rigour'

Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly accused the Chief Constable of a lack of rigour in his response to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission’s call to ban the use of plastic bullets.

‘‘There have been 17 dead, over half of them have been children, the rules of engagement have been thrown out the window,’’ the North Belfast member of the Northern Ireland Assembly said.

Mr Kelly claimed the new plastic bullets were used against teenage girls in non-riot situations during last week’s disturbances in the Catholic Ardoyne area.

‘‘They (the RUC) started the riot the other night in Ardoyne, they are a sectarian force using a very lethal weapon predominantly against nationalists, they shouldn’t be allowed to do so.’’