Sinn Fein has denied it orchestrated yesterday's rioting in the notoriously violent Ardoyne district of Belfast, according to a report The Guardian newspaper today.
The newspaper said Sinn Fein had "angrily rejected suggestions by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) chief constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, that the IRA might have planned one
of the most serious riots in north Belfast in years to try to influence key talks on the future of policing".
More than 100 police officers were injured in disturbances in the district yesterday and last night (NZ Time).
Hours of rioting saw pitched battles between nationalist youths and RUC riot squads, with one officer felled by a pickaxe and others coping with petrol bombs and blazing hijacked vehicles.
Sir Ronnie said the trouble had been planned, indicating that he believed the IRA was the driving force behind it.
He added: "People do not spontaneously have to hand acid bombs, blast bombs, and angle grinders to cut down lampposts to block roads. This was orchestrated. I have little doubt about that."
But Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly was quoted in The Guardian as saying police had manhandled republicans who were trying to restore order.
"The RUC went in hamfistedly," he said. "They started attacking the actual stewards who were trying to keep the situation calm.
"Once you attack the stewards who are trying to calm the situation, how do those people then keep control?"
The Guardian said Sir Ronnie dismissed Sinn Fein claims that his officers provoked the situation by being heavy-handed.
- HERALD ONLINE STAFF