Violent clashes in Belfast as loyalist marching season ends

Trouble erupts after Orange Order parade passes Ardoyne shops, then spreads across city There has been a serious outbreak of violence in north Belfast with police firing dozens of baton rounds and using water cannon in clashes with nationalist youths. The trouble erupted within minutes of an Orange Order parade passing by the Ardoyne shops shortly after 7pm. The disorder has now spread across the city, with a hijacking in the nationalist Market area of the inner city and crowds gathering on the Oldpark Road. Although the police were able to pin back rioters and keep them away from loyalists in the contentious parade, disorder broke out shortly afterwards on the Crumlin Road. Two different sets of protesters attacked riot police at two entry points into the republican Ardoyne district. Police officers were pelted with bricks, rocks, bottles and petrol bombs as well as fireworks. One group of rioters have set a hijacked car on fire at the junction of Crumlin Road and Woodvale Road, not far from where a smaller group of loyalists are still standing in Twaddell Avenue. Part of the road is now covered in black acrid smoke while the PSNI continue to fire water cannon at those engaged in the riot. The streets around the district are studded with shattered glass and smashed up bits of masonry. Earlier, 24 police officers were injured as Northern Ireland reaches the climax of the Ulster loyalist marching season. The majority of those hurt were caught up in riots in Greater Belfast that lasted into the early hours of Tuesday morning. Nationalist youths threw missiles, petrol bombs and at one stage drove a hijacked bus at police lines. The Greater Ardoyne Residents’ Collective were denied the right to gather on Crumlin Road – the return route of the Orange parade – on Tuesday night. The PSNI feared the residents would mount a sit down protest on the road to block the Orangemen’s path home. As loyalists marched through Belfast city centre the republican residents began to protest along Berwick Road against the Orange parade passing by their district. When the Orangemen and two loyalist bands passed by, a number of nationalist women sang the Soldier’s Song (the Irish national anthem) and hurled abuse at the marchers. Speaking from the platform, Dee Fennell – a spokesman for the residents group – initially called on the crowd to disperse peacefully. When a large number of those gathered at the protest started laughing Fennell said they would “show the Orange Order, the Parades Commission and the PSNI what they thought of their parade”. Gerry Kelly, the Sinn Féin assembly member for the area and former IRA Old Bailey bomber, said he was concerned at the rising tension in this corner of north Belfast. “We have a situation where we have two parades at one time,” he said. While Kelly and Sinn Féin oppose the loyalist march they have appealed for peaceful protests against the parade. He condemned those nationalist youths behind the violence of the last 24 hours but also blamed the Orange Order for failing to reach a compromise with Catholic residents along contentious parade routes. Northern Ireland Henry McDonald guardian.co.uk

Posted by on July 12, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.