No 'serious incidents' -Derry interface group success

A group set up to try and prevent sectarian clashes in Londonderry has claimed there have been no 'serious incidents' at flashpoint areas since Easter.

The Foyle Interface Monitoring Forum is made up of 20 community workers from the Fountain/Bishop Street interface and two flashpoints in the Waterside.

Michael Doherty is from the forum.

"There may have been isolated incidents that have happened, I'm not denying that.

"What I'm saying is that major incidents have stopped, groups of people going to interface areas to cause trouble.

"Maybe the message that people need to live in peace is finally getting through," he said.

"A lot of people come from outside these areas to cause havoc.

"People in these areas do not want bother," he said.

Residents from both sides of the Fountain estate and Bishop Street interface held a rally against attacks in the area in January.

Fountain community worker Jeanette Warke said people on both sides of the community had had enough.

"I am very heartened when I see the turn-out and the broad group of people that have come here from all different backgrounds. Hopefully we are singing off the same hymn sheet," she said.