The Taoiseach Mr Bertie Ahern today called for action by the Northern Ireland Police Service to track down loyalist terrorists.
"The figures speak for themselves," he said after condemning today’s murder of a Catholic postal worker. "According to official figures produced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, two-thirds of [shootings and violent incidents in north Belfast] were generated by loyalist groups.
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Mr Bertie Ahern
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"But the statistics also show there have been few or no arrests. That is a worrying situation, and I am sure that the Secretary of State, John Reid, will do all he can to try to improve and deal with that situation."
Mr Ahern said he would be surprised if the PSNI did not know the identity of the leaders of the loyalist gangs.
"People have felt that something was going to happen because tension has built up over the past few days. They feel that more could be done in the policing area."
"I am not in the business of criticising people. I think the one thing we need to do at this stage is to try to bring in as much calm, as much order and as much co-operation as possible."
Mr Ahern said there was a "very serious situation" in north Belfast, adding that the atmosphere over the last few days had increasingly deteriorated.
"What we desperately need now is that political leaders, the community leader and people on the ground to do all they can to calm the situation."