On-going protests over the decision to limit the flying of the Union Jack over Belfast’s City Hall to only 17 days a year are beginning to become costly as well as affect both the retail and tourism trades within the area.
The Belfast Telegraph reports on the protests, which organizers have vowed to not slow down. The protests have already cost the Northern Ireland government an estimated £11m ($18m).
Sources told The Belfast Telegraph that policing the protests has already exceeded £3m, while economist John Simpson estimates that local businesses have lost £8m.
A source close to the loyalist protesters said, “The feeling hasn’t changed. When the flag goes up the protests stop.”
Indeed, the protests will be continuing, with a big march scheduled for this coming Saturday. Protesters are planning to march from four separate locations across Belfast to converge on the City Hall at 1pm. Another demonstration is scheduled for January 20th.
Bob McCoubrey, owner of the Mourne Seafood Bar in Belfast and Dundrum, said the local economy cannot sustain any further disruption caused by the protests.
“If protesters are planning to converge on Belfast on Saturday, it’s not only bad news for retailers in the city centre but it also puts a massive question mark over Saturday evening trade as well,” said McCoubrey.
“We live in a competitive world and we cannot afford this anymore,” added McCoubrey.
“Northern Ireland needs to appeal to tourists, but if you were in London, Cardiff or Glasgow and thinking about a weekend away, you would certainly think twice about going to Belfast after seeing the news recently.”
Economist John Simpsons added that “We’ll be paying for this for the next two to three years until we get away from being seen as an unstable destination.”
“Our reputation for having reached peace and stability has been thrown into question by recent events as far as the rest of the world is concerned.”
Some sources have said that an agreement to permanently fly the Union Jack at the Cenotaph in the Garden of Remembrance could help calm the brewing tensions in and around Belfast.
However, until an agreement is reached, loyalists are vowing to march not only in Belfast, but now Dublin as well. Victims campaigner Willie Frazer said that protesters are offended by the tricolor flag and want it removed from the Houses of the Oireachtas at Leinster House.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Portia_O'Neill | Jan 08, 2013, 01:03 AM EST
When is IC going to update this site?
seanomelb | Jan 06, 2013, 05:46 PM EST
How do they get over the hurdle of their institutionalised hate IN? The unionist have been indocrinated for so long that commonsense is to difficult,they cannot move on and it's tragic
IrelandNorth | Jan 06, 2013, 03:35 PM EST
The solution to the problem is ridiculously simplistic. It's all down to proportional representation, like the electoral franchise system of the same name. Unionists can be more British in a united Ireland than they are in an increasingly disparate UK. Unlike the influx of foreign nationals into an enforeced multiculturalised British and/or Irish Isles, being born in the Ireland of Ireland and as 16.5% of an All Ireland population, Ulster unionists/loyalists/protestants would be entitled to demand Ireland to have a 16.5 degree relationship with the neighbouring jurisdiction. British identity and culture can be enshrined in a renegotiated constitution. All they need is the courage of their convictions.
llyndsey | Jan 05, 2013, 09:30 PM EST
The tricolor has both the orange and the green for a reason. It's the 21st century, fly both flags and let's have done with it.
seamus60 | Jan 05, 2013, 08:40 AM EST
Jacersagain. We don`t see any workers walking out of their well established factories located throughout the Biblebelt in order to take up the flag issue. Once again the people with least feel agrieved and are easier to lead.
seamus60 | Jan 05, 2013, 08:34 AM EST
Daileari. Lets sort Ireland out first before looking at colonising anywhere. lol
seamus60 | Jan 05, 2013, 08:07 AM EST
Frazier entering the scene has definitely brought the phrase pantomine into play. Even Some of the protesters must be cringing.
IrelandNorth | Jan 05, 2013, 04:00 AM EST
These loyalists lads and lassies are only abreacting to the lowering of the union jack (UJ) over Belfast City Hall because the Ulster-Scot folklore they imbibed with their mother's milk spooked them into believing that a united Ireland (UI) will be worse than it actually will be in reality. If Mr Frazer loves Ulster, does he love all of it all of Ulster? Or does he just love British imperialism. But he is right to bring his concerns about Local Government in the provincial capitol to the national capitol. But he is not comparing like with like. Belfast City Hall on Donegall Square South in Belfast is not the equivalent of Leinster House on Kildare Street (or Merrion Square North) in Dublin. One is a City Hall Local Government. The other is the 26 county state legislature and executive. The 6 county Northern (sic) Ireland (NI) regional assembly and executive at Stormont Castle (Ulster House?) flies the UJ on designated days only, though it should be flying the Saint Patrick's Cross more consonant with their union. Dublin City Council (DCC) on Wood Quay in Dublin rarely if ever flies the Irish tricolour (ITC) being Local Government only. Though they do fly the Dublin flag, a lesson for Belfast City Hall perhaps? When Mr Frazer comes up to the Irish capitol and goes to DCC, he'll actually see the flags of other European Union (EU) states/nations from flagpoles along Essex Quay (incl the UJ!) for Ireland's EU presidency. What he will NOT see is members of An Garda Síochána na h'Éireann allowing street blockades and watchings and besettings of moderates constituency offices either in Dubin or further up the road in Killarney, Co Kerry. Mr Frazer might be more gainfully employed prevailing on his colleagues to reciprocate parity of esteem rather than engagin in political pantomime.
Dailearie | Jan 05, 2013, 01:30 AM EST
The English flag should never fly in any part of Ireland now or ever. I fantasize about the day when England will become a colony of Ireland and the green flag with the harp will fly over Buckingham Palace. The Irish have suffered ENOUGH!!!
seanomelb | Jan 05, 2013, 12:49 AM EST
What a sad lot fraser and his narrow minded band are.
warrenpoint00 | Jan 04, 2013, 09:44 PM EST
british thrash on display to the world.See.. we Irish told you so.This is a forced occupied terority of Ireland
jacersagain | Jan 04, 2013, 09:41 PM EST
Don’t arrest the people protesting. Give them long-hours jobs to stop them being yobs, with the pay they get being paid back into the British Exchequer to compensate for what their protests are costing.
curtisjohnson | Jan 04, 2013, 08:30 PM EST
So they're petitioning a government they claim has no legitimacy or jurisdiction over them to remove its own flag. Subtract 10 IQ points and Willie Fraser may sprout leaves.
seanaci | Jan 04, 2013, 08:25 PM EST
SF Councillor Jim McVeigh said the purpose of the rule change was "...to see a City Hall that is inclusive and welcoming to every citizen and every tradition." When did he move to Northern Ireland, one wonders?
bobby | Jan 04, 2013, 06:53 PM EST
Happyhippo couldn't agree more.
seanomelb | Jan 04, 2013, 05:08 PM EST
Fraser is just another orange bigot.Let him go to Dublin and give him what he deserves ,the turd
Happyhippo | Jan 04, 2013, 04:24 PM EST
BY the way one of the unflatering descriptions of the union jack is the butchers apron,but the threat of loyalists to demonstrate in Dublin to remove the tricolor from government buildings just proves how delusional these loyalists are,if their motive is to get a reaction they are treading on very dangerous ground and should be not be allowed to bring their unique form of bigotry south of the border,to allow them go south and create mayhem is just what they would love.
IrelandNorth | Jan 04, 2013, 02:15 PM EST
They should jack it in. The world is beginning to see them as a bunch of complete jackasses. These loyalist lads have their heads up their transomes. They won't win much sympathy by blocking off the 'Queen's highway' to harassed and bedraggled commuters trying to get home in the evening. And the police won't win sympathy by standing idly by watching them break the law, and watching and besetting constituency offices. It's about City Hall, not Donegall or Newtownards Roads etc. Let them stand dawn to dusk outside City Hall as human flagstaffs on shift rotas. British identity is now only the largest minority in Northern[ised] Ireland (NI). There are two others who are just as entitled to their flags and emblems. Fly the British union jack (BUJ) 4 days a week. The Irish tricolour (ITC) 3 days a week. And the Ulster/NI (UNI) flag 2 days per week. That way all traditions on the British and/or Irish Isles off the mainland get a look in.
Scrivner | Jan 04, 2013, 01:49 PM EST
How about compromising and just flyhing the gay pride rainbow flag? That way both sides can unite in proteting and both be rebuked for being bigoted. A win-win situation!
Curitiba | Jan 04, 2013, 12:54 PM EST
Could they all stop sponging of the hard-working mainland British taxpayer for their Unionist theme park and start contributing-or get out of the Union please?
Portia_O'Neill | Jan 04, 2013, 12:41 PM EST
Aside from its historic significance I've never admired the Brit flag for its design. As a fashion statement it's not very flattering to its wearer.
seamus60 | Jan 04, 2013, 08:51 AM EST
Could they not at least come out and protest about something their fellow brits could equate to.