A Derry priest has said he is shocked by accusations of harassment against the police made by republican families in the city.
Fr Paddy O'Kane met some dissident republican supporters in Rosemount in the city to hear their complaints about PSNI officers. This followed his denunciation of dissident violence in Derry including the bombing of Strand Road police barracks last month and the murder of Kieran Doherty in February.
The Holy Family Parish priest said he had heard "harrowing stories" from people who were "angry and afraid".
The 32 County Sovereignty Movement, which is aligned with the Real IRA, said Fr O'Kane had heard accounts from "family members and children of local republicans who have been singled out for special attention by the RUC (sic) resulting in a campaign of harassment, intimidation and brutality".
However, the PSNI said it had serious doubts about the accusations levelled against it.
Derry's PSNI area commander, Acting Chief Insp Jon Burrows said: "I hear people talking about the rights of children - we are actually out trying to protect the rights of children.
"Let's cast out minds back 12 years ago to the Omagh bomb. We are out trying to disrupt people who would bring bombs onto our streets and they are still doing it."
The families' claims and Fr O'Kane's remarks were "a cause for concern", according to Sinn Féin's Martina Anderson.
"It is important that we have a policing aervice that complies with the highest standards of human rights and if there is evidence of harassment or other human rights abuse I will pursue those cases to bring the officers to account," the Foyle Assembly member said.
She said Sinn Féin has shown its commitment to deliver accountable policing/
"The PSNI must be human rights compliant and operate in a way that keeps the public safe but to do so in a way that respects peoples' human and civil rights," she said. "While I am unaware of what families attended last night's meeting, and although they may disagree with Sinn Féin's political stance, I would like to state that my door is open to them."