In his statement, Dr Bruce said, “As Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland I want to join with many others across society in the clear condemnation of the violence which has escalated in recent days. There is no place for the street violence, rioting and other unlawful behaviour such as has been witnessed, and I call on those involved and those orchestrating it to stop immediately, before more people are injured or someone is killed.
“On behalf of the Presbyterian Church, I offer our unequivocal support to the PSNI in these difficult days. Police officers are themselves not separate from us, but part of our local communities. Those who are serving on the ground, and may find themselves on the front line, along with the senior leadership of the PSNI, deserve our clear support at this time. In particular my prayers are with those who have been injured in the course of their duties with the hope that they recover quickly.”
Dr Bruce continued, “It is important that we recognise that there are significant underlying issues in communities across Northern Ireland, and particularly amongst those who feel that their identity has been threatened and undermined as a result of Brexit and the Protocol. This is compounded by a growing sense of hopelessness manifested in a lack of economic progress, reduced opportunities for employment, and educational disadvantage.
“In seeking to build a peaceful and reconciled society, these issues can, and will, only be solved through political will and leadership across that society. Whilst our elected representatives at Stormont have the primary responsibility for these matters of policy, the UK and Irish governments, along with the EU itself, must all be actively involved in finding ways to rebuild confidence amongst those who feel marginalised and that their identity has been undermined. Their voices need to be heard and their genuine concerns addressed.”
The Moderator concluded by saying, “Violence on the streets is not a legitimate response to these concerns, especially when over the past year these very communities have stepped up to support one another during the Covid-19 pandemic. The events of recent nights have brought fear and foreboding back onto the streets and have the potential to undo much of this positive and quiet work. This must not happen.”