Trouble erupts at Tour of the North

Published Friday, 17 June 2011

Trouble has broken out at the Tour of the North parade in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast, with bricks, bottles and stones being thrown at police by protesters.

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The marchers set off from the Orange Hall at Clifton Street at around 7.30pm on Friday, amid significant police presence.

When they arrived at Woodvale Parade, marchers handed over a letter of protest to police over the Parades Commission's decision not to let two feeder parades pass the Ardoyne shop fronts.

Registering the complaint, North Belfast DUP MLA Nelson McCausland said: "There are residents of Ballysillan and over Ardoyne who have been refused the right to return home this evening at the conclusion of the parade."

"That's a denial of a basic human right - the right of peaceful assembly.

"This is a main road; it should be accessible to people throughout the community."

Trouble erupted soon after at the top of Twaddell Avenue, with protesters throwing missiles at police and officers in riot gear moving in.

There were also reports that police used water cannons as the disturbance continued late on Friday night.

A police spokeswoman said: "A number of missiles have been thrown and police are monitoring the area."

Motorists were still being advised to avoid Twaddell Avenue, Woodvale Road, and Crumlin Road after the parade ended.

The Tour of the North is the first contentious parade of the marching season.

The interface area of Ardoyne has been the scene of violent clashes in previous years.

Comments

81 Comments

NorthBelfastNews in North Belfast wrote (339 days ago):

It's Carnival time once again in Belfast. When the Dinosaur Orange Order insist on Pushing 300 year old Victorys into the Faces of the Catholic Community and the People of North Belfast. It seems like any Excuse will do these People...now that they are Claiming they can't go Home after their Normal Routes have been Blocked by Protesters. They can't go Home after they have just Stamped all over The Catholic Community their Heritage and Culture that no-one other than themselves wants to know about. If anyone had seen the Circus at Carlisle Circus when they had Hot Dog Stands, Poke Vans and Busloads of People shipped in from God only knows where...then you can see How These Events have Become not only a Chance for the OrangeMen and Women to Flash their Union Jack Knickers at The Catholic Community in North Belfast...but more like, How the Circus has Now Arrived back in Town...for The Marching Season...

lotna in limavady wrote (341 days ago):

Thomas . I think the same could be said of the other side. Love your neighbours can mean respect their culture.

ROBERT in belfast wrote (341 days ago):

Upper ardone is on the same map as the lower Ormeau road. Keep picking the cherry tree as you always do. THE TREE GETTING VERY THIN

maggie in north of ireland wrote (341 days ago):

It is sad to see this shared land is not shared at all. And what sparked off the troubles can be happening again. Have there been no lessons learned from the past. We had Orangemen attend a funeral and I could say not the first time but still hate remains. Ten years ago children were at the centre of a protest over thirty years ago rioting broke out after a parade. Could someone not deliver sense to this and everyone just go home. i have watched a programe on bbc 2 . Men who wouldn't stop marching. I saw what the bands meant to the Protestant people who had little else. It kept the youth out of trouble and had a big impact on their lives. I think young Catholics have boxing which helps their development and the young Protestant has his parade.

steve in belfast wrote (341 days ago):

@ Paddy what planet are you from ? You say you don,t go upsetting Unionists, murderers made lord mayors and advisers in goverment , is this your idea of mutual equality and respect ?

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