Northern Ireland’s First and Deputy First Ministers have condemned those responsible for rioting in Belfast over the past two days, and defended their political efforts to ease tensions over controversial parades.
Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness also described as ‘unhelpful’ comments made by PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay - who criticised politicians for failing to provide leadership.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, has labelled the events in Belfast as deplorable.
In a statement, Mr Martin said: ‘I call on people from across the community - paraders and protesters - to show restraint and respect for all traditions on the 12 July and throughout the year.
‘Last night's disturbances in Ardoyne serve only to damage the community within Ardoyne and good relations more generally’
Several hundred PSNI officers were deployed in Belfast last night to allow Orange Order members return home through the nationalist Ardoyne area.
The marchers had been attending the annual 12 July parade in the city centre.
Dozens of masked youths threw petrol bombs and missiles at the police and they fired several plastic bullets at the rioters.
A PSNI officer was injured when she was hit by a missile. She was taken to a Belfast hospital with head injuries.
A number of local residents supported by dissident republican groups had attempted to block the road.
After several difficult hours in north Belfast, the tension eased at around 10pm.
Sinn Féin MP Gerry Kelly has claimed dissidents had orchestrated the trouble.
Elsewhere, police in Derry say five shots were fired at a police vehicle during a public order incident in the Bogside.
No-one was injured in the shooting, which occurred shortly after a 1.15am this morning.
The vehicle was on fire at the time after being struck by petrol bombs.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay said the challenge was to find a way to resolve the sensitive parades for good.
'This is the only way we can move away from the disorder, tensions and fear that grips Northern Ireland every year.
'We need to see real joined-up strategic political leadership, backed up by everyone in communities making their peaceful voices heard.
'Northern Ireland cannot afford to have violent images beamed across the world every summer - images which are totally unrepresentative of the vast majority of people who have embraced a peaceful and vibrant future.'
Elsewhere, Iarnród Éireann has confirmed that a train was attacked travelling from Belfast to Dublin yesterday and was set on fire while several windows were broken.
The train came under attack just outside Lurgan by a group of youths on the line throwing stones and other missiles.
The driver stopped the train and the group then set his cab on fire.
The driver locked the doors on the train so the attackers were not able to get onboard. However, they did steal several pieces of luggage.
The train was brought to Portadown and the passengers were transferred to another train.
The line between Portadown and Belfast remains closed today.
Policing operation to cost millions - Baggott
The PSNI Chief Constable has said the cost of policing the rioting yesterday will run into millions.
Matt Baggott revealed police video footage showing officer coming under frenzied attack from rioters.
The Chief Constable said the police images showed that his officers had displayed great restraint.
He said: 'You saw last night that you will not have anywhere in the world a more world-beating organisation in protecting people who were demonstrating.
'You take the complexity of that and you show me anywhere in the world that can do that like my colleagues in the PSNI.'
Mr Baggot said a major investigation was being launched to apprehend those involved and he said he would encourage the courts to impose stern sentences on anyone convicted.
He said some of those involved in the Ardoyne disturbances were dissident republicans.
However, he said there was an element of 'text' and 'tourist' rioting, as well involving people from outside Belfast and even further afield.
