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US President Calls For Calm In...

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US President Calls For Calm In Northern Ireland After A Week Of Violence

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Newsroom

06:24 9 Apr 2021


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US President Joe Biden has joined those calling for calm in Northern Ireland.

His appeal comes as Belfast heads into the weekend after a week of violent clashes.

The PSNI says those who've engaged in rioting can expect to be caught.

It also says it doesn't believe the violence has been orchestrated by any one group.

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood says its vital communities can restore calm.

Social Media's role in this must be questioned according to Mr. Eastwood.

"People are putting up all sorts of things," he says.

He's also accused social media companies of "allowing" people to organise "very dangerous" riots on their platforms.

"That has to stop."

"They need to begin acting much more responsibly."

Violence

Northern Ireland Leaders Appeal For Calm

Police have ruled out the involvement of loyalist paramilitary groups in organising violence in Belfast.

An umbrella body has insisted none of its member organisations have been involved.

So that is representing the likes of the UVF and UDA.

Sinn Fein has appealed for people to stay away from interfaces in Belfast this weekend.

The disturbances come almost two years after the murder of journalist Lyra Mc Kee.

She was shot dead while watching a protest in Derry.

Her sister Nichola Mc Kee Corner is concerned a similar tragedy could happen again:

"It's much more furious even than the violence we witnessed that night (when Lyra died)."

"I fear that someone is going to lose their life."


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