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Protests' 'negative impact'

LOYALIST flag protests and riots have had a negative impact on community relations, according to new research.

Less than half of people questioned for a major university survey thought relations between Protestants and Catholics were better now than five years ago. Hundreds of people were convicted following loyalist demonstrations and riots between December 2012 and the first few months of 2013.

Loyalists were angered by Belfast City Council's decision to restrict the number of days on which the union flag is flown.

Researcher Grainne Kelly said: "The findings are concerning for community relations and demonstrate that the recent unrest has had a negative impact far beyond people's attitudes to, and tolerance of, markers of identity for each community".

The Life and Times Survey, which is carried out annually by the University of Ulster and Queen's University Belfast, found that only 45 per cent of those surveyed thought relations between Protestants and Catholics were better now than five years ago.

In 2010 it was 62 per cent.

A total of 1,210 people across Northern Ireland took part in the 2013 survey.

Meanwhile judgment was reserved yesterday in Chief Constable Matt Baggott's bid to overturn a ruling that police wrongly facilitated illegal and violent loyalist flag protest marches.

During a three-day hearing at the Court of Appeal in Belfast, lawyers for the PSNI argued that the findings were flawed and unfair.

A panel of senior judges, led by Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan, will now consider all submissions before reaching a verdict.

The appeal was fast-tracked due to its operational importance for how police deal with any contentious parades over the summer marching season.