Belfast Denounces Festive 'Jeer'

Christmas celebrations at Belfast City Hall were last night over-shadowed by sectarian violence.

Rival groups of teens spilled onto the street amid the annual festive lights switch-on.

Youths hurled missiles between North Street and Castle Street, where fires were started.

Two vehicles were also damaged during the riots.

Police detained two males aged 19 and 17 and a 14-year-old girl.

They were later released pending further enquiries.

Hundreds of people, including young children, had gathered at city hall to see cartoon character Bob the Builder preside over the annual ceremony.

East Belfast Assemblyman Robin Newton condemned the "young yobs" involved in the violence.

He said they "deserve to be treated severely by the courts when caught".

"The Christmas event is organised to send out a very positive indicating Belfast is open for business in the run up to the festive period," said Mr Newton.

"Trouble of this nature does no one any good."

Belfast Lord Mayor Naomi Long (pictured above) described the incidents as "disappointing" and "very sad".

"There is a of work being done both in local communities and through the council to try and deal with issues such as sectarianism because we can't assume it has gone away, and I think we would all be realistic about that," she said.

"What we had hoped was that the violence that accompanied it on many occasions would have come to an end, but obviously that's not the case either."

Lord Mayor Long stressed the violence should be put in context, given the small number involved.

Alasdair McDonnell, SDLP MP for South Belfast, called on the Stormont Executive to face-up to its responsibilities under the Shared Future Strategy.

"The reality is that sectarianism is alive and kicking among certain sections of our young people who didn't grow up through the Troubles," he said.

"We need to get to grips with this and the Executive must face up to its responsibilities and bring forward the Shared Future Strategy that is so badly needed."

4NI News is aware of cross-body talks, led by the PSNI, held earlier this month in a bid to stifle violent incidents during the festivities.

In 2007, two police officers were injured when trouble flared in Castle Street following the switch-on.

(PR/GK)