Police chief gloomy over ending violence
Tensions in north Belfast were on a knife edge tonight amid fears that the bitter sectarian violence blighting the area could spiral out of control.
Police chiefs have blamed loyalist terror group the Ulster Defence Association of orchestrating some of the worst rioting seen this year.
Concern was growing that the trouble that has ravaged the Limestone Road area this week was spreading to other notorious flashpoints.
Police were investigating unconfirmed reports of shots being fired as loyalists and nationalists confronted each other in Ardoyne.
Acting Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn painted a gloomy picture about the chances of a quick solution to the sectarian strife.
Addressing the Northern Ireland Policing Board for the first time since succeeding Sir Ronnie Flanagan, he said: ‘‘There doesn’t seem to be any cause for optimism that the communities are able to move ahead together.’’
Mr Cramphorn told the board he was convinced the UDA was behind the rioting but that efforts to arrest the leaders were being hampered by the terror grouping’s loose structures.
‘‘Decisions that have apparently been reached have been ignored in a matter of hours by members of the organisation,’’ he explained.
His comments followed a night of violence on the Limestone Road in which 13 police officers were injured after coming under gun and bomb attacks from loyalist mobs.
The situation deteriorated further today with police investigating reports of fresh gunfire in the Ardoyne area a few miles away.
The trouble erupted as around 100 loyalists and 150 nationalists confronted each other at the Everton Complex, a centre used by both communities.
Sinn Fein councillor Margaret McClenaghan claimed nationalists were defending their area when they were fired on.
She said: ‘‘As they were doing that someone came out and fired five shots at them.’’
‘‘It’s obvious that the UDA has orchestrated it and decided it’s time for the people up here to get a wee touch of it,’’ she added.
North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds of the Democratic Unionist Party urged the Northern Ireland Office to introduce security measures in a bid to quell the violence.
‘‘It’s an appalling situation. Ordinary residents are very frightened at what might happen. I have been pressing the NIO for the installation of CCTV,’’ he said.
Mr Dodds said it was clear that paramilitaries on both sides were orchestrating the violence.
‘‘I’m calling for community leaders to use their influence to calm the situation,’’ he added.
NIO Minister Des Browne said the Government was committed to holding the line at interface areas.
‘‘There have been extensive security works in North Belfast. CCTV has been installed at Ardoyne in North Belfast.
‘‘In terms of other interface areas, the precise detail needs to be worked through, not least securing agreement from both communities in the area,’’ he added.
Meanwhile loyalists in north Belfast were tonight planning a protest march against ‘‘heavy handed’’ police tactics.
Eddie McClean, a community worker from Tiger’s Bay, said there was much anger at the way riot squad officers had come into the area to break up riots over the past few nights.
‘‘The march is in protest at what this new police service has been doing to this community,’’ he said.
