IRISH bishops have expressed dismay at the violence and disorder in Northern Ireland over the past week, evident most notably in north and east Belfast.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Richard Clarke, joined by the Bishop of Connor (Belfast), the Rt Revd Alan Abernethy, and the Bishop of Down & Dromore, the Rt Revd Harold Miller, said: "Christian values centre around forgiveness, the valuing of every person, and working for the common good. To raise a hand in anger is to step away from those values." The Bishops described it as "wholly unacceptable" to abuse or endanger the lives of members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

"We urge people to find new ways of dealing with difficult issues through meaningful engagement," the Bishops continued. "We need to talk now, and not leave it too late. We, for our part, are willing to offer help and support to any such sincere processes of mediation and dialogue within our communities."

Forty police officers and one MP were among casualties of sectarian rioting in Belfast, on Friday night, when Orangemen returning from a Twelfth of July parade were prevented from using a route through the Nationalist Ardoyne area, scene of many flashpoints in the past.

Bricks, bottles, and petrol bombs were hurled at police. More than 700 officers have been drafted in from England and Wales to assist.

An estimated 4000 police officers were enforcing a ruling of the Parades Commission that the parade finish 300 metres from the nationalist area. Chief Constable Matt Baggott said that those responsible for the violence would face the full rigour of the law.

Rioting continued throughout the weekend in the area, though parades in other parts of Northern Ireland passed off mostly without incident.

Recognition. The Orange Order has officially been recognised by the Irish government as having a part to play in the Republic's vital tourism industry. Under a special initiative called "The Gathering", designed to bring hundreds of thousands of people of Irish descent home for a holiday from all over the world, the only Orange March in the State, at Rossnowlagh, in County Donegal, has been included in the catalogue of events taking place all over the country.