Loyalists attack police again in east Belfast as CBI warns of job losses
Expand
Expand
Expand
Expand
Expand
Expand
Expand
Expand
Expand
Police clear road of debris on the lower Newtownards Road. Jan 8 2013
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Lower Newtownards Road. Jan 8 2013.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Lower Newtownards Road. Jan 8 2013.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Lower Newtownards Road. Jan 8 2013.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Lower Newtownards Road. Jan 8 2013.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Lower Newtownards Road. Jan 8 2013.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Lower Newtownards Road. Jan 8 2013.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Lower Newtownards Road. Jan 8 2013.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Lower Newtownards Road. Jan 8 2013.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Lower Newtownards Road. Jan 8 2013.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Lower Newtownards Road. Jan 8 2013.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Lower Newtownards Road. Jan 8 2013.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Lower Newtownards Road. Jan 8 2013.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 8th January 2013 - Trouble breaks out on the lower Newtownards Road this evening.A campaign of street demonstrations has been ongoing since Belfast City Council took a vote on 3 December which limited the number of days the union flag is flown at Belfast City Hall.Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Lower Newtownards Road. Jan 8 2013.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Riots on the lower Newtownards Road January 7 2013
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalists protesting in Belfast. January 7 2013
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalists protesting in Belfast. January 7 2013
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalists protesting in Belfast. January 7 2013
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalists protesting in Belfast. January 7 2013
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalists protesting in Belfast. January 7 2013
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Riots on the lower Newtownards Road January 7 2013
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Riots on the lower Newtownards Road January 7 2013
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Riots on the lower Newtownards Road January 7 2013
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Riots on the lower Newtownards Road January 7 2013
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Riots on the lower Newtownards Road January 7 2013
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Riots on the lower Newtownards Road January 7 2013
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Riots on the lower Newtownards Road January 7 2013
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Riots on the lower Newtownards Road January 7 2013
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - Monday 7th January 2013 - Trouble breaks out on the lower Newtownards Road after loyalists protested in Belfast city centre this evening as the monthly meeting of Belfast City Council takes place inside Belfast City Hall.A campaign of street demonstrations has been ongoing since Belfast City Council took a vote on 3 December which limited the number of days the union flag is flown at Belfast City Hall.Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Riots on the lower Newtownards Road January 7 2013
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
A car burns in the Castlereagh Street of east Belfast
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
A burned out car during disturbances which erupted in east Belfast
Police on patrol during disturbances which erupted in east Belfast
A car burns in the Castlereagh Street of east Belfast
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
A car burns in the Castlereagh Street of east Belfast
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
A car burns in the Castlereagh Street of east Belfast
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
A car burns in the Castlereagh Street of east Belfast
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
PSNI in Castlereagh Street of east Belfast
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
A car burns in the Castlereagh Street of east Belfast
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
PSNI officers in Castlereagh Street of east Belfast
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
A car burns in the Castlereagh Street of east Belfast
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - Sunday 6th January 2013 - A car burns in the Castlereagh Street of east Belfast this evening following a loyalist protest. A campaign of street demonstrations has been ongoing since Belfast City Council took a vote on 3 December which limited the number of days the union flag is flown at Belfast City Hall. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
A car burns in the Castlereagh Street of east Belfast
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - Sunday 6th January 2013 - A car burns in the Castlereagh Street of east Belfast this evening following a loyalist protest.A campaign of street demonstrations has been ongoing since Belfast City Council took a vote on 3 December which limited the number of days the union flag is flown at Belfast City Hall.Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
A car burns in the Castlereagh Street of east Belfast
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalist protesters on their way to Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protesters block of the Newtownards Road Belfast where shots are reported to have been fired on Saturday January 5 2013
Colm O'Reilly Photography
Loyalist protestors converge on Belfast City Hall. Picture date: Saturday January 5, 2013
Mark McCormick
Loyalist protestors converge on Belfast City Hall. Picture date: Saturday January 5, 2013
Mark McCormick
Loyalist protestors converge on Belfast City Hall. Picture date: Saturday January 5, 2013
Mark McCormick
Loyalist protestors converge on Belfast City Hall. Picture date: Saturday January 5, 2013
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalist Protestors converge on Belfast city hall. Picture date: Saturday January 5, 2013. Ongoing protests and demonstrations continue at the removal of the Union flag from the city hall. The protest was largley peacfull with only minor skermishes.Picture Mark McCormick.
Mark McCormick
PSNI officers on the Lower Newtownards after a Loyalist flag protest at Belfast City Hall
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Willie Frazer at loyalist protests near Belfast city hall. Picture date: Saturday January 5, 2013
Mark McCormick
Loyalist protestors converge on Belfast city hall. Picture date: Saturday January 5, 2013
Mark McCormick
Loyalist protestors converge on Belfast city hall. Picture date: Saturday January 5, 2013
Mark McCormick
Loyalist protestors converge on Belfast city hall. Picture date: Saturday January 5, 2013
Mark McCormick
Loyalist protestors converge on Belfast city hall. Picture date: Saturday January 5, 2013
Mark McCormick
Loyalist protestors converge on Belfast city hall. Picture date: Saturday January 5, 2013
Mark McCormick
Willie Frazer talks to Sara Girvin as loyalist protestors converge on Belfast city hall. Picture date: Saturday January 5, 2013
Mark McCormick
PSNI officers on the Lower Newtownards
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
SNI officers on the Lower Newtownards
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
PSNI officers on the Lower Newtownards
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalist flag protest at Belfast City Hall
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalist flag protest at Belfast City Hall
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalist flag protest at Belfast City Hall.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
PSNI officers on the Lower Newtownards
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
PSNI officers on the Lower Newtownards t
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalist flag protest at Belfast City Hall
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalist flag protest at Belfast City Hall
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
PSNI officers on the Lower Newtownards
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
PSNI officers on the Lower Newtownards
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
PSNI officers on the Lower Newtownards
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
PSNI officers on the Lower Newtownards
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
PSNI officers on the Lower Newtownards
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
PSNI officers on the Lower Newtownards road, Belfast January 5 2013
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Castlereagh Street area of east Belfast following loyalist rioting January 3 2013
Flag protest at Cluan Place, January 3 2013
Flag protest at Cluan Place, January 3 2013
Flag protest at Cluan Place, January 3 2013
A burning barricade on the Newtownards road area of Belfast, where police have been targeted by rioters
Flag protest at Cluan Place, January 3 2013
Flag protest at Cluan Place, January 3 2013
Flag protest at Cluan Place, January 3 2013
Flag protest at Cluan Place, January 3 2013
Carrickfergus flag protest. January 2, 2013
Carrickfergus Flag Protest, January 2 2013.
Loyalists across Northern Ireland have been protesting since councillors in Belfast voted to limit the number of days they fly the Union flag
Loyalist protestors and PSNI officers pictured at Belfast City Hall on 22 December 2012
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Jackie McDonald has warned that loyalist protests cannot succeed in having the Union flag reinstated above Belfast City Hall
Martin McKeown
Loyalist protestors and PSNI officers pictured at Belfast City Hall on 22 December 2012
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalist protestors and PSNI officers pictured at Belfast City Hall on 22 December 2012
Mark McCormick
Loyalist protestors and PSNI officers pictured at Belfast City Hall on 22 December 2012
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalist protestors and PSNI officers pictured at Belfast City Hall on 22 December 2012
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalist protestors and PSNI officers pictured at Belfast City Hall on 22 December 2012
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalist protestors and PSNI officers pictured at Belfast City Hall on 22 December 2012
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalists block the Sandy Row area of Belfast as part of a mass protest over flags
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt and First Minister Peter Robinson were among those holding talks about the Union flag dispute in Belfast
Loyalists protesting around the village area in south Belfast December 17 2012
Loyalists protesting, blocking traffic in Derry
MCLAUGHLIN ©
Loyalists protesting, blocking traffic in Derry
MCLAUGHLI ©
Loyalists protesting, blocking traffic in Derry
MCLAUGHLIN ©
Loyalist hold protests around the village area in south Belfast
Loyalist hold protests around the village area in south Belfast
Loyalist hold protests around the village area in south Belfast
Loyalist hold protests around the village area in south Belfast
Loyalist hold protests around the village area in south Belfast
Loyalist hold protests around the village area in south Belfast
Loyalists taking part in a protest over the restrictions of flying the Union flag protesting outside Belfast City Hall
Up to 1,000 people took part in the cross community Peace Gathering in Belfast city centre
Loyalists in Belfast have been protesting against a decision to reduce the number of days the Union flag will fly from City Hall
Protest outside the Alliance Party office in East Belfast belonging to Naomi Long, following the decision by Belfast City Council to stop flying the union flag every day. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday December 4, 2012. See PA story ULSTER Flag. Photo credit should read: Paul Faith/PA Wire
Paul Faith
Alliance party office which was set on fire in Carrickfergus after a protest rally over the Union flag
Alliance party office which was set on fire in Carrickfergus after a flag protest
Alliance party office which was set on fire in Carrickfergus after a protest rally over the Union flag
Alliance party office which was set on fire in Carrickfergus after a protest rally over the Union flag
Alliance party office which was set on fire in Carrickfergus after a protest rally over the Union flag
Alliance party office which was set on fire in Carrickfergus after a protest rally over the Union flag
Alliance party office which was set on fire in Carrickfergus after a protest rally over the Union flag
Alliance party office which was set on fire in Carrickfergus after a protest rally over the Union flag
Alliance party office which was set on fire in Carrickfergus after a protest rally over the Union flag
Police in Carrick come under attack from protestors following a fire at the Alliance party office
Police in Carrick come under attack from protestors following a fire at the Alliance party office
Aftermath of riots in Carrickfergus. Photograph by Mark Winter
Aftermath of riots in Carrickfergus. Photograph by Mark Winter
Loyalist hold protest at Naomi Long's east Belfast Alliance office following a council vote last night which will see the Union Flag only follow certain days. Loyalist protesters pictured on the Newtownards Road during the protest
Loyalist hold protest at Naomi Long's east Belfast Alliance office following a council vote last night which will see the Union Flag only follow certain days.
Northern Ireland- 4th December 2012 Mandatory Credit - Photo-Jonathan Porter/Presseye. Loyalist hold protest at Naomi Long's east Belfast Alliance office following a council vote last night which will see the Union Flag only follow certain days. Loyalist protesters pictured on the Newtownards Road during the protest.
Northern Ireland- 4th December 2012 Mandatory Credit - Photo-Jonathan Porter/Presseye. Loyalist hold protest at Naomi Long's east Belfast Alliance office following a council vote last night which will see the Union Flag only follow certain days. Loyalist protesters pictured on the Newtownards Road during the protest.
Northern Ireland- 4th December 2012 Mandatory Credit - Photo-Jonathan Porter/Presseye. Loyalist hold protest at Naomi Long's east Belfast Alliance office following a council vote last night which will see the Union Flag only follow certain days. Loyalist protesters pictured on the Newtownards Road during the protest.
Northern Ireland- 4th December 2012 Mandatory Credit - Photo-Jonathan Porter/Presseye. Loyalist hold protest at Naomi Long's east Belfast Alliance office following a council vote last night which will see the Union Flag only follow certain days. Loyalist protesters pictured on the Newtownards Road during the protest.
Northern Ireland- 4th December 2012 Mandatory Credit - Photo-Jonathan Porter/Presseye. Loyalist hold protest at Naomi Long's east Belfast Alliance office following a council vote last night which will see the Union Flag only follow certain days. Loyalist protesters pictured on the Newtownards Road during the protest.
Northern Ireland- 4th December 2012 Mandatory Credit - Photo-Jonathan Porter/Presseye. Loyalist hold protest at Naomi Long's east Belfast Alliance office following a council vote last night which will see the Union Flag only follow certain days. Loyalist protesters pictured on the Newtownards Road during the protest.
Northern Ireland- 4th December 2012 Mandatory Credit - Photo-Jonathan Porter/Presseye. Loyalist hold protest at Naomi Long's east Belfast Alliance office following a council vote last night which will see the Union Flag only follow certain days. Loyalist protesters pictured on the Newtownards Road during the protest.
Loyalist hold protest at Naomi Long's east Belfast Alliance office following a council vote last night which will see the Union Flag only follow certain days. Loyalist protesters pictured on the Newtownards Road during the protest
Loyalist protestors carrying Union flags clash with police outside the City Hall in Belfast
Paul Faith
Loyalist protestors carrying Union flags clash with police outside the City Hall in Belfast
Paul Faith
Loyalist protestors carrying Union flags clash with police outside the City Hall in Belfast
Paul Faith
Loyalist protestors carrying Union flags clash with police outside the City Hall in Belfast
Paul Faith
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Paul Faith
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Paul Faith
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall
/
Loyalists pelted police with bottles and stones in a new outbreak of trouble in east Belfast last night amid warnings that potential investors are turning away because of the street violence.
A special meeting of Unionist representatives has been called in a bid to end the loyalist unrest because of a decision to restrict the flying of the Union flag above City Hall.
It is due to fly again today to mark the birthday of the Duchess of Cambridge, but with riot police again facing hundreds of masked men in and around the lower Newtownards Road area, there is no sign of a halt to the protests.
Fireworks, rocks, golf balls and petrol bombs were also fired at the police lines last night, but there were no early reports of injuries on the sixth consecutive night of violence in that confined flashpoint area of east Belfast.
Earlier the Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson confirmed that representatives of the various unionist parties will meet at Stormont on Thursday to discuss the ongoing trouble. But leaders centrally involved in the protests who are threatening to take their campaign unto the streets of Dublin on Saturday have pledged they want no part in the discussions.
Confederation of British Industry (CBI) claimed jobs will be lost and shops shut unless there is an immediate end to trouble.
Northern Ireland director Nigel Smyth warned: "We are already aware of investors who have lost interest because of these disruptions."
The unrest has continued intermittently since Belfast City Council's decision last month to reduce the number of days the flag flies to 18 days. A total of 66 officers have been hurt and 104 arrests made since the protests started a month ago.
Businesses, especially restaurant owners, said the disruption has had a disastrous impact on trade.
Mr Smyth added: "The violence and disruptive actions of those involved in the street protests is having a detrimental impact on local businesses, as well as damaging prospective tourism and investment for the year ahead.
"There is now a very real risk of job losses as the very livelihood of the business owners and staff in the communities affected is threatened."
Mr Robinson who will head up Thursday's Forum with the Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt, admitted there was considerable economic unease.
He said: "We know the people considering investing. We know the nervousness of some of those who have invested in Northern Ireland," he said.
"The only outcome is that (the riots) damage Northern Ireland's prospects of bringing more jobs here, damage the prospects of young people who want to get into employment and damage the prospects of us having prosperity in Northern Ireland."
Belfast Telegraph
Most Read
- Astonishing antics of NI hospital medic revealed: Doctor Tsakov admits to lewd and racist outbursts and showing porn to colleagues
- Former Presbyterian moderator joins ex-IRA man on SDLP’s Irish unity group
- Top Belfast chef fumes as ‘weekend cancelled’ with forced outdoor terrace closure while indoor petrol station dining allowed
- Revealed: the BBC NI presenters paid the most for external work
- Bryson hits out at policing and NI Protocol as loyalists stage protest in Markethill
Top Videos
Play
Play
Play