Poster campaign to catch Belfast rioters

Police chiefs in Northern Ireland today launched a poster campaign in a bid to catch the people behind the rioting that has plagued…

Police chiefs in Northern Ireland today launched a poster campaign in a bid to catch the people behind the rioting that has plagued north Belfast.

Pictures of 30 suspects were being circulated within communities which have been ravaged by bitter sectarian street fighting in the hope that people will identify the culprits.

Mr Alan McQuillan, assistant chief constable for Belfast, said: "This is our last chance to identify these people."

The montage features suspects from both loyalist and nationalist areas who caused damage running into hundreds of thousands of pounds during clashes in July and November last year and again in January this year.

READ MORE

Sectarian trouble in areas such as Ardoyne, scene of the Holy Cross Girls Primary School picket, saw scores of officers injured and cost millions of pounds to police.

Mr McQuillan said that although about 300-400 people were thought to have been involved in the rioting, the focus was placed on serious troublemakers identified in police video footage.

"We have picked the top end of offenders," he said. Police had sought legal advice on the human rights implications of the appeal, Mr McQuillan said.

He insisted that it was now up to the public to help bring those causing mayhem in their areas to justice. "This rioting has caused immense damage and has made life hell for communities up there," he added.

"We want to stop it but we can't do it on our own. We need the support of the communities and let's see if they are prepared to help us."

PA