The appalling behaviour we saw following the republican commemoration in Londonderry is an affront to society and demands tougher action by the courts.
The petrol-bombers who targeted police in their vehicles were out to hurt officers. Only the previous week, an officer escaped serious injury or worse when he managed to deflect a lit petrol bomb with his hand.
These wanton, aimless and senseless acts are a throwback to the past. They have no place in the modern 21 st century Northern Ireland that is making great strides towards rebuilding from republican terrorism.
The officers on duty in the Creggan were proportionate and are to be congratulated for their professionalism.
The culprits who aimed their lethal petrol-bombs at Land Rovers must feel the full brunt of the law. Stiffer sentences are required to demonstrate that society and the courts will no longer tolerate this behaviour of our streets.
It’s over to our Alliance Party Justice Minister to show some mettle and make a stand for society. I doubt she will.
My advice to Naomi is to make stiffer custodial sentences the norm. Only then will there be a sufficient deterrent to make the culprits realise the folly of their ways.