It was just kids on each side stoning each other

Billy Hutchinson Progressive Unionist Party

Rival mobs hurled stones at each other in several parts of the city in a third successive night of violence.

A man in his twenties was struck by a silver-coloured car and a girl was reportedly taken to hospital with suspected broken legs after a metal trolley hit a group of people.

The latest violence came after a weekend of vicious clashes which began on Saturday after Rangers beat Celtic in the Scottish cup final.

More than 30 police officers and 10 civilians were injured over the first two nights of trouble.

The latest incidents included rioting in the North Queen Street area, the Whitewell district and in the Ardoyne area, which was the scene of protests last year at Holy Cross primary school.

Ulster Unionist councillor Chris McGimpsey said there had been significant republican orchestration of the violence.

We have to get a deep breath and try and make sure this is stopped

Chris McGimpsey Ulster Unionist

Mr McGimpsey blamed republicans for attempting to restart the Holy Cross dispute.

However, he said both communities were at fault.

"Both communities have to look at where we are going," he said.

"We are heading into the marching season and we cannot head into the marching season at the point we are leaving at this present stage. What is it going to be like in July and August?

"We have to get a deep breath and try and make sure this is stopped."

The MP for the area, the DUP's Nigel Dodds, said more security was needed.

Sinn Fein councillor Gerard Brophy said after Monday's clashes began that they had been orchestrated by loyalist paramilitaries in the area.

"I stood and watched leading UDA figures instigate this from midday onwards," he said.

Mr Hutchinson blamed police

But Billy Hutchinson, a Northern Ireland Assembly member with the loyalist Progressive Unionist Party, said the army had been "heavy handed".

"It was just kids on each side stoning each other," he said.

The rioting at the weekend involved crowds of up to 800 people as rival nationalists and loyalists attacked each other and the police, with axes, iron bars, baseball bats and breeze blocks.

After the first two days of violence, the city's Lord Mayor, Jim Rodgers, said: "Anything is an excuse for these people.

"Football is a sport and whether you win or lose, you certainly don't have to go out and riot and cause mayhem on the streets."

He called for the use of water cannon firing dye to deter and identify trouble-makers.