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The Twelfth: Gunshot fired as riots erupt
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
Masked republican youths confront police in riot gear at Ardoyne shops as tensions grew ahead of the return of the Orange Order parade later this evening
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Dissident republicans were behind the violence that broke out in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast, Sinn Fein have claimed.
Ugly scenes erupted ahead of the Orange parade at the flashpoint outside the Ardoyne shops yesterday.
Riot police were targeted with a barrage of petrol bombs and missiles as Orangemen attempted to complete the final leg of their annual march.
At least nine officers were injured during the violence which saw petrol bombs, bricks, and at least one shot being fired by republicans.
In a bid to maintain order police fired 18 baton rounds and deployed a water cannon against rioters.
Serious disorder continued throughout the night with vehicles being hijacked and set alight in the street.
The violence received widespread condemnation from politicians, senior police officers and agencies.
Assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay described the rioting as “a face of bigotry, sectarianism and intolerance”.
Police also confirmed that earlier in the day a firearm was handed in to police after a group of children were found playing with it.
The police condemned those responsible for leaving the item as having “a total disregard” for the local community and putting local children at risk.
Speaking from the scene DUP Culture Minister Nelson McCausland said those behind the attacks wanted to drag Northern Ireland “back into the past”.
“I think we saw tonight the ugly face of dissident republicanism,” he said.
“This afternoon and this evening we saw the violence the sectarianism and intolerance of dissident republicans who are intent only in dragging Northern Ireland back to the past.”
ACC Finlay said it was “disappointing” that isolated outbreaks of violence had marred the day for all communities.
“Right across Northern Ireland there were hundreds of parades that passed off peacefully.” He condemned the minority of people behind the violence.
“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 embraced a peaceful future,” he said.
“It is communities who pay the price. It is their lives that are disrupted and it is their houses, businesses and local amenities that are damaged.”
He said police will carry out a “rigorous investigation”.
Sinn Féin Assembly member for the area Gerry Kelly said “a small number” of dissident republicans from outside Ardoyne were behind the ugly scenes.
“They orchestrated the trouble this evening,” he said. “These people want to see sectarian violence on the streets of Ardoyne and North Belfast.
“It was fairly obvious that these individuals are quite happy to try and orchestrate violence, whip up sectarian tensions and simply drive back to the areas they come from, leaving this community to pick up the pieces.”
Meanwhile, Twelfth of July celebrations in Londonderry were hailed as a great success, despite a handful of minor incidents which occurred in the city on the return march.
Orangemen were spat on by some members of the public as they passed by the Richmond Centre, and had several beer cans and bottles hurled in their direction.
Duncan Morrow, chief executive of the Community Relations Council, condemned the violence.
“Today’s disturbances suggest that it is time to find lasting solutions to these disputes along with all the other outstanding disagreements around culture, rights and law and order which threaten our peace,” he said.
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just reminds me why I left Northern Ireland in the first place! Makes me angry to see the orange men still marching and petrol bombs still being thrown. It's so stupide looking in from an outsider perspective.
Posted by Francie | 14.07.09, 23:03 GMT
Yes Steve, looks like the Donegall Road is an even nicer area, people being put out because of the colour of their skin, a delightful place a real Shangri La! And Ireland was united, until your forefathers stole the land from the native Irish. When are you going home to Scotland? The good old Plantation, eh? Would you like A REPUBLICAN MARCH DOWN THE SHANKILL? I wonder why not?
Posted by Patrick | 14.07.09, 20:23 GMT
SF stand infront of the cameras and say they want to talk to the OO but it's a different story when the cameras are turned off, they are so two faced. I've taken my kids to the parades for years - its a day out, a day off work etc. Realisticaly orangemen are perfectly entitled to walk up past ardoyne shops - the top of ardoyne is a protestant area. However, i disagree with the large number of supporters who accompany the parade.
Posted by Catholic man | 14.07.09, 17:43 GMT
There will never be peace ,until the day republicans change the outlook of are culture .
we been here for 100s of years and we are here to stay this is the facts .
Posted by loyalist | 14.07.09, 13:29 GMT
"When will Ireland be united"
It won't be, unless the RoI gives up the pretence and re-joins the UK: Irish nationalists have seen to that! Cheers, folks!
Posted by Steve | 14.07.09, 13:05 GMT
nor indeed anybody who doesn't toe the line of intrangigent sectarain republicanism eh'fool'?
Posted by gary | 14.07.09, 12:48 GMT
To No Longer Fooled: We've just had European elections - -and Sinn Fein was overwhelmingly endorsed at the ballot box by the vast majority of people in Ardoyne.
Gerry Kelly and Margaret Mc Clenaghan DO speak for the people of the area. Not these dissident clowns who never lifted a finger when the conflict was raging on our streets.
The people of Ardoyne do not want these sectarian Orange marches forced down their throats. But they don't want hoods running wild with petrol bombs either
Posted by gearoid | 14.07.09, 12:47 GMT
Looks like nobody is welcome in Ardoyne. Must be a lovely place, full of delightful people!
Posted by Steve | 14.07.09, 12:38 GMT
The RUC has no right to accuse anyone of bigotry or sectarianism. The record of this vile organization is clear for all decent people to interpret.
The cause of the trouble in Ardoyne relates directly to Britain's refusal to leave Ireland in peace. If only Britain had left Ireland 90 years ago when it was asked to do so by the majority of Irish people!
When will Ireland be united? This is the only way to show the pro-British people that Ireland will welcome them with open arms.
Posted by Mr. | 14.07.09, 10:37 GMT
All this just underlines the fact that nationalists have done nothing to reach out to the OO. The non-leadership by SF and the SDLP simply panders to the republican hate-mongers.
Posted by Steve | 14.07.09, 09:51 GMT
disgusting ban these parades we dont need them, just like the thugs who started attacking the police,we need to move on,the so called dissident republicans are grasping at straws,ireland has moved away from all that trouble and found its better to co-exist with each other
Posted by mark | 14.07.09, 09:30 GMT
Gerry Kelly should be directing his useless words at the Orange disOrder, not republicians. Orange men should not be marching in Ardoyne. They are not welcomed - nither is kelly, to be honest.
Posted by No Longer fooled republican | 14.07.09, 09:15 GMT
everyone blame minority is behaving uncivilised manner but what our mejority people doing if we need peace in northern ireland everybody has to take some responsibilty and think we are in 21st century and not in 16th and try to remove the violence behaviour from our youngesters we have lot of facilities in our communities to aware including consequences of taking alcohol, drugs etc but I don't think its properly used for try to be more educated otherwise we need more foreigners to be employed
Posted by samiritan | 14.07.09, 08:16 GMT
Assistant chief Constable Finlay described the rioting as a face of bigotry sectarianism. and intolerance. Where is his head ? It is not the rioting it is the parades,taunting the Catholics and reminding them of their place and where the Unionists would like to keep them at the bottom of the heap. Shame on you and then trying to shift the blame from where it lies. People have a right to live in neighbourhoods without having Nazi like people marching through insulting them .
A Heflin
Posted by Anne Heflin | 14.07.09, 02:47 GMT