Rival gangs clash in north and east Belfast

Rival loyalist and republican youths have clashed during rioting in north Belfast on Sunday.

The trouble flared at around 10pm in the Ardoyne Road/Alliance Avenue area of the city.

Missiles were thrown and windows in a number of homes were smashed however there were no reports of any injuries.

The area was eventually restored to calm at around 1am on Monday.

Earlier on Sunday rival factions clashed in east Belfast following the Scottish premier league clash between Rangers and Celtic.

At the height of the disturbance up to 200 people were involved in rioting with bottles, bricks and stones being thrown.

Up to five gun shots were also heard while a blast-bomb type device was found in the Clandeboye Gardens area but was made safe and taken away for examination.

East Belfast DUP Councillor Robin Newton said there was a strong opinion among residents of the mainly protestant Cluan Place that the attack was sparked by Rangers beating Celtic earlier in the day.

“The Rangers win is only the latest excuse for some Short Strand republicans to vent their frustration and rage on their Protestant neighbours. If it hadn’t been the football match such is their bigotry another excuse would be found,” he said.

Sinn Féin representative for East Belfast Deborah Devenny said nationalist residents in Short Strand district were “sickened and disgusted by a week of attacks on the area by loyalist thugs”.

“A barrage of ball-bearings, golf balls, bricks and bottles have rained down upon people and property,” she said. “The political leadership of unionism and the Orange Order must face down these people. Sinn Féin has appealed to unionist politicians who sit on forums and commissions with the leaders of the UVF and UDA to start using their influence to end these attacks."

(MB/SP)