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Church of Ireland bishops in the North have called for an immediate stop to the violence that has taken place in recent days.<\/p>\nChurch of Ireland bishops in the North have called for an immediate stop to the violence that has taken place in recent days.<\/p>\n
Police have been attacked with petrol bombs and other objects as loyalist unrest turned violent in Belfast and Derry throughout the week.<\/p>\n
In a joint statement on Easter Monday, bishops called for an immediate halt and urged those involved to consider the long-term consequences of their actions.<\/p>\n
It is never acceptable for anyone to attack police officers with petrol bombs, stones and fireworks, and to risk causing them serious injury or worse<\/p>\n
The statement read: \u201cThe violence which has been happening in parts of Northern Ireland over the past week is wrong and should stop immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople may feel aggrieved at things which have happened in the political sphere recently, but that is where any grievances should be addressed \u2013 in the political arena \u2013 and any response to these grievances should remain constitutional and legal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is never acceptable for anyone to attack police officers with petrol bombs, stones and fireworks, and to risk causing them serious injury or worse.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe PSNI do an incredibly difficult job and deserve our support. People may have criticisms of policing but there is a forum for this, and any criticisms should always be expressed respectfully.\u201d<\/p>\n
The statement called on young people involved in the riots to think about their futures.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere may be lifelong consequences, too, for some of the younger people involved in the past week\u2019s disturbances, who could end up with prison sentences, criminal records or life-changing injuries.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe urge them not to become involved in rioting and not to do anything which they might regret for the rest of their lives,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
\u201cRioting and destruction are never the answer. They destroy neighborhoods and divide our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Church of Ireland letter was sent with the approval of Archbishop John McDowell (Armagh), and bishops David McClay (Down and Dromore); Andrew Forster (Derry and Raphoe) and George Davison (Connor).<\/p>\n
The PSNI moving a bin which was set alight on North Road in Carrickfergus near Belfast. Photo: Liam McBurney\/PA
\nTensions have soared within the loyalist community in recent months over post-Brexit trading arrangements which it is claimed have created barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.<\/p>\n
Anger ramped up further last week following a controversial decision not to prosecute 24 Sinn F\u00e9in politicians for attending a large-scale republican funeral during Covid-19 restrictions.<\/p>\n
All the main unionist parties have demanded the resignation of PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne, claiming he has lost the confidence of their community.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Co Antrim, a recent series of drug seizures against the South East Antrim UDA \u2013 a renegade faction of the main grouping \u2013 have caused particular ill-feeling towards police. The faction is believed to have been behind the disturbances in Newtownabbey on Saturday.<\/p>\n