It is both highly disturbing and hugely depressing that children of primary school age have been seen becoming actively involved in street violence across Belfast and Derry over recent weeks.
The appalling scenes were witnessed in both nationalist and loyalist neighbourhoods, with some of the episodes even being filmed, and it is only through good fortune that none of the young perpetrators have been seriously injured or worse.
Some of the most alarming incidents took place in Derry at the weekend, when trouble broke out in nationalist areas after thousands of loyalists took part in the annual Apprentice Boys parade in the city.
Significant progress has been made over parading issues in Derry since darker periods in the past, with positive relationships developed between community leaders on both sides, and it needs to be stressed that the vast majority of residents in the city want to live together peacefully.
However, it is clear that a small number of individuals, sometimes encouraged by splinter republican groups, are still ready to take the opportunity to instigate confrontations and attack police patrols.
It was estimated that around 50 people started the trouble in the Nailors Row district, between the city’s historic walls and the Bogside, with disgracefully 10 PSNI officers injured when a hail of missiles were fired on Saturday.
Video footage clearly captured a hooded young child, who appears to be around seven, throwing a petrol bomb at a line of Land Rovers, with others of a similar age joining in the prolonged disturbances.
It has been well documented that other youngsters who had definitely not reached their teens were participating in the previous agitation organised by loyalist elements in Belfast over a period of several weeks.
An 11-year-old boy, who is entitled to the legal presumption of innocence, has shockingly been charged with possessing and throwing petrol bombs and is due to appear before Belfast Youth Court next month.
Adults who either hand lethal weapons to youngsters, or fail to exercise their duty of care at any time, must expect to face the full weight of the law
While it is by no means unknown for young children to become drawn into disorder in parts of Belfast and Derry, particularly during the summer months, the main responsibility for all the consequences which follow must lie with their parents.
Everyone understands how difficult it can be to monitor youngsters during the school holidays, but allowing them to engage directly in full blown rioting is reckless and unacceptable in every way.
When children throw petrol bombs, they obviously run the risk of killing either themselves or anyone else in their line of fire, so adults who either hand lethal weapons to youngsters, or fail to exercise their duty of care at any time, must expect to face the full weight of the law.
