FURTHER NIGHT OF CLASHES IN ARDOYNE

THERE were further eruptions of violence on the streets of North Belfast on Thursday night.

During the clashes 20 police officers were injured in the flashpoint area of Ardoyne as Royal Ulster Constabulary officers came under fire from petrol and paint bombs and bomb blasts. 10 shots were also fired at the police.

The worst of the violence, sparked in north Belfast by sectarian clashes, started to diminish around midnight and the RUC reported that the streets were quiet by 4am on Friday morning.

Three people were arrested for public order offences. No baton rounds were fired, the police said.

On Thursday afternoon, a pipe bomb exploded in the back garden of a Catholic home in Alliance Avenue. No one was injured but three women were treated for shock and a child was hurled against a wall by the force of the blast.

Tension in the area had been growing since June 15 when an Orange Order Tour of the North parade took place. Trouble first broke out when children and their parents were prevented leaving the school by stone throwing youths on Tuesday 19 June.

On Thursday children trying to attend Holy Cross Primary School were prevented from going to school. Meanwhile, a group of about 50 pupils and parents were again prevented from getting to the Holy Cross Girls' Primary school along the Ardoyne road on Friday. They were turned away at police lines and had to go to the school by another route.

Politicians from both sides of the community have condemned the violence. Northern Ireland Security Minister Jane Kennedy said on Thursday afternoon she met with a range of political and community representatives from north Belfast. She said: “These meetings are still continuing. I have listened to a wide range of views of those whom I have met and will reflect on all their concerns. For my part, I have asked everyone to encourage restraint across the community and to allow all those involved to work towards achieving a resolution.” (AMcE)