PSNI blamed as loyalists attack Short Strand

Posted by Jim on January 12, 2013

　A flags protest at Belfast City Hall swiftly degenerated into violence

this afternoon after a unionist mob charged towards a nationalist

enclave in east Belfast, attacking homes and launching into hours of

intense riots.

PSNI police chiefs were accused of facilitating illegal parades both

before and after the ‘peaceful’ City Hall protest, where hundreds of

flag-waving loyalists gathered to demand the year-round flying of the

British Union flag.

Following the end of the protest at about 2.30pm, masked loyalists were

directed by PSNI landrovers towards the nationalist Short Strand, where

they duly began attacking homes and smashing windows. They then

launched into a furious daytime riot in front of the world’s assembled

media.

Local Sinn Fein Councillor Niall O Donnaghaile said tensions had been

running high among residents after five weeks of loyalist disturbances

in the area.

“What has been allowed to happen here is an absolute disgrace and now

we as a community have to deal with the fall out of illegal protests,

anti-democratic protests and people who simply cannot tolerate the fact

that the Short Strand as a community exists.”

Both loyalist and nationalist community workers expressed dismay at the

PSNI decision to block the Queen’s Bridge, all but ensuring violence

further south.

Mr O Donnghaile said a number of homes had been “seriously damaged”

along the Albertbridge Road as a result of the decision to permit the

illegal loyalist parade through the area.

The latest chapter of violence has also infuriated city centre

businesses who lost another day’s trade. It followed heavy clashes in

the same area last night and six consecutive days of riots last week.

Senior politicians from Belfast, Dublin and London are to meet next

week to discuss the protests. The DUP First Minister Peter Robinson and

the Sinn Fein deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness will hold the

talks with the British Direct Ruler Theresa Villiers and 26 County

Tanaiste Eamonn Gilmore.

Speaking earlier today, Mr Gilmore said: “This violence is being

orchestrated and those behind it are known criminals, intent on

creating chaos.

“This has nothing to do with real issues around flags and identity in a

shared society, which are the subject of intensive political

discussions at present.”

The PSNI said five of its members had been injured in the latest

outbreak of violence, and that two further plastic bullets were fired.

Tensions remain high in east Belfast and the Beersbridge Road area this

evening.