The Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe said yesterday that parts of Northern Ireland were under the rule of mafia-type groups. Speaking in St Columb's Cathedral, Bishop James Mehaffey said Northern society had experienced 30 years of violence.
"While the present overall level of violence has been greatly reduced, our society is still a very violent one in which punishment beatings are frequent, the gun is often used to settle disputes and sections of the community have come under the control and influence of mafia-type groups," he said.
Dr Mehaffey said violence emanated not only from subversive and paramilitary groups, but also from domestic violence. He also condemned the recent spate of sectarian petrol bomb attacks on houses in the loyalist Fountain estate.
"In these situations it is usually innocent people who suffer and particularly the elderly and the house-bound. I wish to pay a warm tribute to leaders from all sides of the community who have come together to help bring about a resolution," he said.