Irish PM warns against ‘spiral’ in Northern Ireland violence

Micheal Martin issues warning after 14 police officers injured in another night of clashes in Northern Ireland.

The Irish prime minister, Micheal Martin, warned against a “spiral back” into sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland on Saturday, after a week-long streak of unrest continued with 14 police injured in the latest night of clashes. Disorder sparked in pockets of Belfast – the capital of Northern Ireland – on Friday night with petrol bombs and masonry thrown at officers, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said. A car was also “hijacked and set on fire and pushed towards police lines”, as the total number of officers injured in the recent disorder reached 88.