Thousands in anti-cuts marches in NI
Published Saturday, 26 March 2011
Thousands of people have marched through Belfast and Londonderry to protest against government spending cuts, as part of a UK-wide day of action.
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Between 400,000 and 500,000 teachers, nurses, firefighters, council and NHS workers, other public sector employees, students, pensioners and campaign groups from across the UK marched through central London on Saturday.
The rallies in Northern Ireland were organised by trade unions to highlight the difficulties being faced by local hospitals, schools and other public sector areas.
Protesters also criticised the decision by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey to shelve a planned radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin Hospital.
In Belfast, teachers, nurses, midwives, council staff and other public sector workers marched from the Art College at York Street to City Hall.
An anti-cuts march was also held in Derry's Guildhall Square.
Unison Regional Secretary Patricia McKeown, who attended the march in Belfast, said trade unions "are saying no to cuts".
"We're out to protect our welfare state; we're out to protect our public services. We want our hospitals built".
In London, violence flared away from the rally when a group of hundreds of activists, not connected with the union protest, clashed with police. They set off fireworks, threw paint and attacked shops in Oxford Street, Regent Street and Piccadilly.
Topshop and HSBC had their windows smashed, while paint and glass bottles were thrown at a Royal Bank of Scotland branch. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said he "bitterly regretted" the violence, but hoped it would not detract from the massive anti-cuts protest.
The Stormont budget contains £4bn in spending cuts over the next four years.