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Home Page > News > ‘Unacceptable’ violence and rioting over flag in Belfast has cost $24 million

‘Unacceptable’ violence and rioting over flag in Belfast has cost $24 million

Traders hit by losses over Christmas season as protests continue in the city

RACHAEL LAIRD,

IrishCentral Intern

Published Friday, January 11, 2013, 8:04 AM

Updated Friday, January 11, 2013, 9:38 AM

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Loyalist protesters rioting in Northern Ireland over the removal of the Union Jack from Belfast City Hall.

Photo by Google Images

Speaking at Westminster, Secretary of State Theresa Villiers said the damage inflicted to the economy has been "considerable". "Huge efforts have been made in recent years to project a modern, confident, outward-looking Northern Ireland that's a great place to do business, she added.

"But the pictures beaming round the world of riots and disorder make it far, far harder to compete in the global race for inward investment, jobs and livelihoods are under threat so it is essential that these protests and this violence stops now."

Unionists on Belfast City Council said they will press for a rates cut to help traders affected by the disruption over flags. A joint statement from the DUP and UUP laid the blame on nationalists and the Alliance Party for "pushing through" the flag policy changes.

Sinn Féin accused them of "abdicating responsibility" and asked them to explain to people where the cuts would come from to pay for a rates cut.

The issue will be discussed by the council in February.

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IrelandNorth | Jan 12, 2013, 03:37 AM EST

"SHAME ON ALLIANCE PARTY [for proposing amicable compromise democratically (ACD)]!" "HAND'S OFF THE UNION FLAG [hoist it remotely instead]!"

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aloistmartin | Jan 11, 2013, 06:02 PM EST

If the Violence had more to do with Partisan Politics, ( The Real I.R.A. Sinn Fien, The Communists, The Socialists, Opus Dei, and so on. ) than the Sectarian Diplomacy of Bourgeois Capitalist Economics; The NATO, ( EU ? ) and UN Tanks would be rolling down Shankill Road !

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seanomelb | Jan 11, 2013, 04:38 PM EST

The police may need a bigger stick to rid the Streets of these orange bullyboys.

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Seanmor | Jan 11, 2013, 03:59 PM EST

The Union Jack belongs in Great Britain and the Tri-Colour in Ireland.

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Towngate | Jan 11, 2013, 03:57 PM EST

These latest disturbances must give pause to those who crow about their contribution to the so-called NI Peace Process! ( N O'D if the cap fits! ..... )

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IrelandNorth | Jan 11, 2013, 02:09 PM EST

The decision to restrict the flying of the British union flag over Belfast City Hall was a democratic one, which people from the previous majority tradition are obviously having difficulty getting used to after 90 years of gerrymandered ideological hegemony. It's not for a minority tradition, even if the largest minority, to dictate to the other two minorities that their flags can't fly too. They're like children going through terrible twos temper tantrums, refusing to give up their transitional object. Grow up, for God (and Ulster's) sake! UTV/BBBCNI teatime news just now shows flag protesters dictating traffic policy to police by illegal road closures. Beggars belief. Would never be tolerated any where else in Ireland.

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warrenpoint00 | Jan 11, 2013, 01:59 PM EST

These terrorists read the census report and discovered they were not so much a majority so being unionists and just like the bees when their nest is ruffled they attack in swarms and use the removal of the piece of cloth as an excuse for their erratic behavior and we Irish in the north west of our country have had to put up with the annoyance of their terrorist tantrums for the last couple hundred years.There has to be a place in heaven for us for sure

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pilib04 | Jan 11, 2013, 11:57 AM EST

kilkee91, my preference is Doire. However, I like the Belfast Telegraph practice to refer to Derry and Londonderry alternately within the news article.

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Happyhippo | Jan 11, 2013, 10:04 AM EST

We had a group cycle tour planned for NI around Easter now some who have never been are having second thoughts,but are prepared to wait and see if things calm down,if not they will go elsewhere,the business traders in the north who are the biggest losers deserve better.

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Portia_O'Neill | Jan 11, 2013, 09:03 AM EST

I knew a woman from Belfast who made nappies out of the Union Jack so she could wrap her babies in loyalist fashion.

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kilkee91 | Jan 11, 2013, 09:02 AM EST

I like reading Irish Central, but it's "Irish" Central. One wonders where you source your material when you refer to the Irish city of Derry under the British name Londonderry? Minor point.

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seamus60 | Jan 11, 2013, 08:17 AM EST

Quite a few papers reporting today that just about everyone that matters knows who is orchastrating all the violence. Although no one appears interested in doing anything about it Marian Price remains INTERNED as a political prisoner for holding a piece of paper in a cemetary.

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