Parents in Northern Ireland must exercise greater control over their children, Democratic Unionist leader the Rev Ian Paisley said today.
Following claims that young people started a forest fire last night in Co Down and were involved in sectarian street clashes in west Belfast on Wednesday, Dr Paisley appealed to families to ensure their children were not involved in any criminal behaviour.
The North Antrim MP, who will become Stormont First Minister on May 8th, said young people needed to realise they had a responsibility to the communities in which they lived.
"Respect is a much used phrase by young people but it cuts both ways," the DUP leader said. "Young people need to be shown respect. But they also need to respect the communities in which they live, particularly the most vulnerable living there. Parents need to know where their children are and what they are doing."
Children were accused of deliberately starting last night's fire in Rourkes Park, near Annalong in Co Down. Two youngsters in their early teens were spotted starting five separate fires in the area.
It was the latest in a series of blazes in the Mountains of Mourne over the Easter holiday that the fire service said were started deliberately.