Immigrant families flee homes in N. Ireland riot

Senior police officer has reminded parents of their responsibility to make sure their children do not get involved in rioting after more disorder in Northern Ireland.

The 100-strong crowd of loyalists that attacked police in Portadown was predominantly made up of teenagers, police said.

Three men were arrested during the disturbances in the Corcraine area of the Co Armagh town which was sparked after loyalist flags were allegedly removed at an interface with a nationalist area. Officers fired 19 baton rounds at the rioters during the violence.

The disorder came at the end of a week which saw violence erupt across Northern Ireland during the height of the Orange Order marching season.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Superintendent Jason Murphy said a peaceful loyalist protest had been hijacked by those intent on trouble.

significant number of families from East Timor have settled in Portadown, where they work in the food packing industry alongside many Poles and Portuguese.

In recent days nearly 50 police have been wounded and dozens have been arrested during violence in both loyalist and republican areas surrounding the annual July 12 parades.

More than 500 parades were held on Tuesday across Northern Ireland, the high point of the Orange Order marching season celebrating the victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

The vast majority passed off peacefully, but they raised community tensions and sparked outbreaks of street violence.

Three decades of fighting between mostly Protestant loyalists who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom and Irish nationalists, mainly Catholics, who want it to be part of a united Ireland tore the province apart during a three-decade period known as the "Troubles."

A 1998 peace agreement paved the way for a power-sharing government of loyalists and nationalists.

Violence has subsided, but police say the threat from dissident groups opposed to the peace deal is higher than it has ever been since it was signed.