Urban violence is being placed under the microscope at the University of Ulster’s Magee campus this week as the School of Law hosts a public seminar on the topic.

Representatives from official agencies, rights groups and development organisations will be taking part in the seminar, entitled ‘Beyond Sensationalism: A Roundtable on the Causes & Resolutions of Urban Violence’ in the Carrickmore Lecture Theatre on Tuesday.

Conference organisers Angela Hegarty and Esther McGuinness said: "We hope that this will be an opportunity to explore the causes of violence in the city centre in a thoughtful way, to get to the issues beyond the sensational headlines. We hope to hear from a number of interested individuals and groups and to think through some solutions.

"We aim to facilitate a thoughtful interchange of views and ideas on what can often be a heated and controversial topic. We would encourage those attending and contributing to also reflect on the nature of violence itself and the factors which fuel it."

Among the participants will be Chief Supt. Richard Russell of the PSNI in Derry; Paul O’Connor of The Pat Finucane Centre for Human Rights & Social Change; Marie Brown from Foyle Womens Aid, Stephen Kelly of City Centre Initiative and Noel McCartney from Community Restorative Justice.

(MB/SP)