Protests in Belfast regarding the new rule on limiting the flying of the Union Jack over Belfast’s City Hall incited a sixth night of violence in East Belfast on Tuesday. The flag, however, was raised for the first time this year on Wednesday to honor the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton’s 31st birthday.
Protests began in Belfast last month when the government opted to place a limit on the amount of days the Union Jack could be flown over Belfast’s City Hall, knocking it down from year-round to only 17 days. Wednesday was the first day this year that the flag was hoisted above City Hall, and will be taken down later this evening.
BBC reports that the PSNI said in a statement that officers were attacked with petrol bombs, fireworks, bricks and golf balls on the Newtownards Road, before a crowd of about 150 protesters moved into Templemore Avenue on Tuesday night.
The statement also said that "from helicopter footage it became clear that individuals had forcibly entered a building owned by East Belfast Community Development Agency” and vandalized the facility.
Chief Superintendent Alan McCrum said on Wednesday, "Last night we saw a number of people on the streets who were intent on engaging in violence.
"They showed no regard for the local community and forcibly entered a premises that is being developed as a multi-purpose community site."
He added: "Police are committed to bringing those who engage in criminal activity before the courts. Since last Thursday alone, 32 people have been arrested on a range of public disorder offences."
Since the Union Jack protests began on December 3, 107 people have been arrested due to violence during protests or riots, and 82 of those people have been charged. Further, 66 police officers have been injured.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said: "Consensus politics has to be the way forward and I think what is happening in Belfast is damaging.”
"It has set us back and is a reminder of the dark days of the past. We need to find a better way of dealing with these issues at local government level."
As the protests and riots continue in Belfast, the scheduled protest for Dublin for this Saturday has since been postponed. The Dublin protest that was to be held outside of Leinster House under the organization of Willie Frazer has been pushed back citing a lack of time to organize.
Pastor Barry Halliday of Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (Fair), who has been assisting Willie Frazer in the organization of the demonstration, told The Journal on Wednesday that: “Dublin wasn’t going to work out, it was all a rush job, and it was going to achieve nothing only trouble for the gardaí. The feeling was we need to show a bit of courtesy to the police of our nearest neighbor.”
“The gardáí have been very helpful, I spoke to the chief superintendent in charge of the operation and he was very helpful."
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seamus60 | Jan 12, 2013, 02:00 PM EST
Fallsnat. There were more than SF who introduced the flag issue, although they will claim it as some great victory that proves we are getting closer to a UI. The one they forecast for 2016. The one there is no movement on except a call for a poll that hasn`t a snowballs chance in hell. But hey it looks good that they still throw the wording about for window dressing. Even better when the loyalists exadgerate their Britishness being stripped from them. It would make a good comedy show.
seamus60 | Jan 12, 2013, 09:10 AM EST
British troops will be the next line of defence. Just imagine the loyalists bringing their guns out against them again and the consequences of a brit public reaction. To bring in reinforcements from the 26 would be too much salt on the wounds and give them a somewhat diluted justification to take armed action. A creature that would grow more legs by the day.
seanomelb | Jan 12, 2013, 12:46 AM EST
'Total victory" tell that to your orange thugs running through the streets of Belfast and see what you get. Childish comment as usual.
FallsRNat | Jan 11, 2013, 08:34 PM EST
seano - yet more anti protestant remarks, if you stand for a catholic only ireland, front up & say so. You've obviously not a free stater, you also got your wish, as the PSNI fired plastic bullets at the Loyalist crowd tonight, this is all starting to spiral out of control. The trouble for you Shinners is that you want everything to happen your way - there will be no peace on the island of Ireland is 1 side insists on total victory.
aloistmartin | Jan 11, 2013, 07:55 PM EST
Made In Denmark
seanomelb | Jan 11, 2013, 05:41 PM EST
As an old Dublin working class boy and a nationalist IrishNorth,where does that leave Connolly and the trade unionists who were instrumental in driving Irish nationalism. I understand the plight of all working class people.Maybe the loyalist working class are victims of their own narrowmindedness. If memory serves me correctly they set themselves apart from their Catholic brethern to persue a narrow bigotry to the point of murdering or thrashing Catholic workers who they perceiced as taken good protestant jobs. ARe they not now reaping the wild wind of their own narrow principals
FallsRNat | Jan 11, 2013, 01:25 PM EST
The loyalists will eat the Garda for breakfast, they couldn't cope with them, anyway that besides the point, Sinn Fein introduced the flag removal process & the country is further away from ever agreeing on anything. How would the IR people react if the tricolour was removed?
IrelandNorth | Jan 11, 2013, 03:54 AM EST
seanomelb! Important to be empathic. those loyalists lads are trapped in a pretty bad case of false class consciousness. They've been sold a pup, like working class Dubliners with the mirage of middle class nationalism.
aloistmartin | Jan 10, 2013, 09:14 PM EST
For a Nickle wee Will @?
seanomelb | Jan 10, 2013, 04:10 PM EST
How disappointing the silence of most unionist politicians in this dispute.Mc Kittrick was interviewed on the TV and he blames the riots on the Prod working class been left behind and they feel under siege. Maybe if they spent more time in school and less time protesting or attending lodge meetings they may lift their social standing and social behaviour.
stephendoyle | Jan 10, 2013, 02:43 PM EST
It means that the mutual aid agreements were not used at this time. When PSNI cops are too hard pressed and are being masacred then the Irish Garda will come up and bail them out. As part of the EU agreements, mutual aid will come into play more often in border areas. Not to worry though, when there is a UNITED IRELAND there will be only one Garda........
IrelandNorth | Jan 10, 2013, 02:22 PM EST
A northern website Belfast Daily reported that the Chief [Servicetable] of the provincial Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) (An Serbhís Poílíní na Tuarscírt Éireann (SPTÉ) had requested reinforcements from the Commissioner of the national police - Án Gárda Síochána na h'Éireann (ÁGSÉ) "to put down the loyalist uprising". Claim was denied by respective head honchoes, as also NI Justice Min David Ford. Commissioner was quoted in the northern nationalist quality tabloid The Irish News as saying that there are no ÁGSÉ personnel on the ground in NI at present. Does that mean there were in the past and may be in the future. Or that they are in the air?
Nicopernicus | Jan 10, 2013, 11:24 AM EST
Well stated Stephendoyle. If ever there was a clearer example of trouble just for the sake of troubles sake. Its no longer hidden... mystically buried in the seams of yesterdays changing winds. Its just folks being shitty...why? Becuase Thats what they do.
stephendoyle | Jan 10, 2013, 08:57 AM EST
Tis a sweet day upon us. The loyalist have fallen into the " Damned if you do, Damned if you don't" trap. Now who looks like the mindless hooligans? Keep it up, your support base is dwindling!