THE Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has ruled out the involvement of loyalist paramilitary groups in orchestrating the violence seen in Northern Ireland in recent days.

It follows a statement from the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC), a group representing the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando, that none of its groups were involved in rioting “either directly or indirectly”.

On Thursday, Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts said it was “clear there was a degree of organisation” to the violence.

Although the PSNI did not confirm paramilitary involvement, they said it was a “likely situation”. However, Roberts appeared to backtrack on that position when asked about the LCC statement.

He said: “It’s our overall assessment that the violence that has taken place over the last few nights is not orchestrated by a group, in the name of that group. There are certainly people who have been engaged in violence who are nothing to do with any illegal organisation.

“We feel that there may be some people who could have connection to proscribed organisations, who have been present on the scenes of violence.

“But we don’t believe it’s been sanctioned and organised by prescribed organisations for peaceful protests.”

Yesterday, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said more than words are needed and leaders need to get on the streets to encourage calm.

She said: “The proposed protests this weekend must be called off and we need to hear that primarily from unionism.”

The violence is unfolding at a time of increasing rancour in the political sphere amid tensions over the post-Brexit Irish Sea trade border and the fallout from the police’s handling of the mass republican funeral that took place during pandemic restrictions last year.