A Presbyterian minister from Co Donegal says the local community is fearful at the continuing violence in Belfast.
Reverend Mervyn Gibson was involved in a meeting yesterday to discuss how the trouble might be brought to an end.
He said the situation was difficult to deal with.
Rev Gibson, whose family roots are in Co Donegal, was an RUC officer before he became a Presbyterian minister.
He is a leading member of the Orange Order and much of his church work is done in east Belfast.
He acknowledges that many young people are taking part in what is sometimes called recreational rioting.
In the past, when paramilitaries were orchestrating activities, it was possible to have it stopped, he added.
But in this case, it is more difficult because there is no clear line of responsibility for the trouble.
Rev Gibson also claimed there have been individual cases of police brutality and that in recent days the PSNI has taken a more robust approach to the trouble.
He said work has to continue to stop the rioting because it is damaging the community and people are fearful.
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