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Monday, 13 July 2009

Clashes disrupt Twelfth parades

North Belfast was picking up the pieces Tuesday after the worst night of violence for years.

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Two officers were injured after petrol bombs, fireworks, stones and bottles were hurled and water cannon and baton rounds used to fend off attackers at the Ardoyne flashpoint in north Belfast. A van was also hijacked and pushed at police lines.

Crowds gathered ahead of the return parade by Orangemen from their July 12 demonstrations.

Sinn Fein Assembly member Gerry Kelly blamed the Real IRA for the trouble.

"This evening's actions expose very clearly the anti-peace process and sectarian agenda which feeds these factions. It has nothing whatever to do with Irish republicanism," he said.

"They chose to try and use the opportunity presented by this parade to further an agenda which has time and again been rejected by the republican community in Ardoyne and everywhere else."

Police fired at least 14 baton rounds.

In Londonderry there were minor disturbances and there has also been trouble in Rasharkin, County Antrim and Armagh.

Police assistant chief constable Alistair Finlay said he was disappointed.

He said: "It is very disappointing that there were a minority of people, in North Belfast, Derry, Armagh, Rasharkin and other parts of Northern Ireland who showed total disregard for local communities.

"They displayed the worst possible face of Northern Ireland - a face of bigotry, sectarianism and intolerance that is not representative of the vast majority of people who have moved on and embraced a peaceful future."

In Rasharkin, officers sustained minor injuries when they were struck by stones and bricks by youths in the village.

Petrol bombs were hurled. One man was arrested.

There were disturbances during the return leg of the Twelfth parade in Londonderry and minor trouble in the Butcher's Gate area where one policeman sustained a slight injury.

Police came under attack with petrol bombs and paint during disturbances in Armagh following a security alert at Friary Road in which a minor explosion occurred.

Four people have been arrested for public order offences following a number of minor disturbances.

At least two cars were also stolen and set alight on Friary Road.

Mr Finlay added: "It is crucial that people continue to engage in dialogue and find long-term acceptable solutions to ensure that the disgraceful scenes we have witnessed are confined to the past once and for all. That is what the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland want."

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23 Comments

At 18:24 on 16 July 2009, Peter wrote:

Lorna...This place doesnt need ANY flags of ANY type flying ANYWHERE!!!. I have little time for parades of ANY colour, especially by those who solely wish to prove some rediculous point.... regardless of the consequences. PS Ronnie.... It would be cheaper to pave your dirt tack rather than pay the price we are all paying for this farce!!!!

At 09:41 on 16 July 2009, lorna wrote:

Peter.With an understanding about how you feel about orange parades passing through catholic areas,then would you agree with me when I say tricolours should not be flown in loyalist areas like Coleraine where a man met his death trying to defend it.In Belfast the same could happen when the Parade was attacked

At 16:56 on 15 July 2009, ronnie wrote:

Peter, you say there is another route through Ballygomartin, I take it you’re not local! The only way through is a dirt track, it’s just about passable in a 4 wheel drive. And what was last night about? No parades, also why was an expecting mother driven from her home on newtownards rd with her two year old daughter.

At 13:32 on 15 July 2009, Peter wrote:

Lorna, thats a very short sighted and selfish response. The insistence of these marchers to go past a flashpoint instead of taking a perfectly viable alternative route is being used by some as a vehicle to create mayhem for all and another large bill fo the taxpayer. Is it really worth the risk just to prove some silly point???

At 11:14 on 15 July 2009, lorna wrote:

Peter with some understanding about how the parade is formed and the evening parade is dispersed. each district goes off in the direction they are from. If the parade is passing through Catholic areas then there must be Protestants living in that direction.We need a bit of give and take and to understand the rights of the few protestants who still live in Nationalists areas.We can go back to the speaches of Ian Paisley when he warned of things to come.We have a peaciful country now but that could soon change it would only take these riots to go out of hand to bring us back to those dark days.

At 22:28 on 14 July 2009, jane wrote:

One comment after watching the footage of the riots: Forget the politics. WHERE ON EARTH WERE THE PARENTS OF THE CRAZY KIDS? This isn't about 'I'm catholic and your protestant', it's an excuse to act out mindless violence. What sane minded and responsible parent lets their child out on the street on a night like that? The parent should be held accountable and prosecuted. Saying that, I find myself feeling angry when the Orange order go parading around with their British flags and patriotic tunes, especially past catholic areas - it must feel like a kick in the belly for any catholic person. I feel this and I'm from Britain and neither catholic or protestant, I moved here 5 years ago. I did study Irish history for my degree so I do feel my views are pretty valid.

At 14:11 on 14 July 2009, Col wrote:

The Orangemen know the local desocialised tracksuited youth will react in such a manner, it's looked at as something to do of an evening by the yobs, have the craic with the police, pelt a few rocks, smash a few windows then go back to the playstations and dominos pizza when it all blows over. Desegregate all schools, remove all religious connections from the education system, it is devisive and causes these problems. Ireland, north and south is a disfunctional, retarded society because of this conflict. A new start is needed, based on secular scandinavian models, it will eventually reduce the socially retarded that currently make living in parts of Dublin/Belfast/Limerick/Derry so god-awful.