Eames alarmed by violence

Archbishop Eames condemned the continuing violence

The culture of 'respectable violence' in Northern Ireland must be confronted, Archbishop Robin Eames has said in his Christmas message.

In a hard-hitting message, the Church of Ireland Primate of All-Ireland said political progress could not excuse a blind eye being turned to punishment beatings, robberies and intimidation, which are continuing despite the Good Friday Agreement.

He urged the government to face up to the continuing violence with "realism and determination".

"Thirty years of terrorism has given way to a new culture of `respectable violence'," he said.

Loyalist feuds

He was speaking following a year in which seven people died in loyalist paramilitary feuds and there were hundreds of incidents of violence and intimidation.

It was also a year when considerable progress was made in the peace process, including the return of devolution to Northern Ireland in May.

Schoolgirl Caroline Daly was shot in a vicious Loyalist feud

"Too many instances of violence appear to be immune from detection or prosecution," he warned.

"Political progress can never be a substitute for the exercise of basic law and order on our streets and in our homes."

Confronting the continuing violence was the "one vital challenge" facing the community, he said in his sermon at St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh.

This would involve "realism and determination" on the part of government.

Fear or "tolerating the laws of the bully boys" could never be a basis for building a just society, he said.

The culture of violence which we see day and night presents a threat to young and old

Archbishop Robin Eames

"We must re-discover a new recognition of the importance of the individual and a reverence for life - life has become far too cheap in the province," he said.

"The culture of violence which we see day and night presents a threat to young and old. In too many areas violence towards people has become the way of life.

'Punishment beatings'

"Bullying, intimidation, armed robbery, the mafia-style outlook in which decent people feel fear even in their own homes, the so called `punishment beatings' - all are examples of how cheap life has become."

Society was in real danger of coming to accept such happenings as an inevitable norm, and there was talk of an "acceptable level of violence", the Archbishop went on.

"Too many instances of violence appear to be immune from detection or prosecution."

He said the intolerance of continuing violence must also extend to the wider community who must be protected from intimidation if they speak up.

"This is a situation which should and must be challenged. This is a situation which government needs to face up to with realism and determination."