Protesters burn British flag as Queen carries on with historic visit – VIDEO & PHOTOS

PATRICK COOPER @irishcentral May 18,2011 04:38 AM

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A group of protesters burn the British flag in Dublin on Tuesday

PHOTOS - Protests during the Queen's historic visit - photo gallery

Irish police arrested 21 people in Dublin yesterday for public order offenses following the arrival of Queen Elizabeth in the nation’s capital.

Twenty people were due before Cloverhill District Court last night, one other person was released without charge, after receiving a caution, Irish police said in a statement.

Around 100 people from Dissident Republican support groups attacked police at the junction of Dorset Street and Eccles Street and Hardwicke Street with rocks and bricks.

One crowd gathered at the Central Bank area of the city as they burnt the Union Jack, the onlookers cheered and chanted “who are ya” before stomping the flag on the ground.

Republican group Éirígí performed a sit down demonstration on O’Connell Street. A spokesperson denied they group had anything to do with the torching of the British flag.
It’s certainly not part of our protest,” Daithí Mac An Bhaird said.

“Given the nature of the announcement that so-called brigadiers from the UDA and some of their henchmen will be present [in Dublin this week], I certainly don’t see that the burning of a Union Jack would be the last one,” he added.

PHOTOS - Protests during the Queen's historic visit - photo gallery
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