howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Guns were back on the streets in Belfast tonight after three people were shot during the most serious rioting in Northern Ireland for years.
Dissident republicans are suspected of firing live rounds which injured a press photographer in the leg, while two other men suffered bullet wounds amid two nights of violence in the east of the city.
A barrage of petrol bombs, missiles and fireworks were thrown at security force lines yesterday with two men suffering burn injuries and officers firing dozens of plastic bullets.
A woman aged 20 has been arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and assaulting police.
Police said the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) had orchestrated the trouble.
Assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay said: "This is a bad thing for the community, this is a bad thing for Northern Ireland.
"We need to bring an end to this needless violence, violence which has put lives at risk."
Rioting broke out on Monday night amid UVF violence against Catholic homes in the Short Strand.
Missiles were hurled between nationalists and unionists on the nearby Lower Newtownards Road, the police intervened and became targets. Two men were taken to the Ulster Hospital with gunshot wounds.
Last night trouble began shortly before 9pm after large crowds gathered at the same East Belfast interface.
Masked youths used sledgehammers to try and smash through police vehicles and jumped onto bonnets in an attempt to rip off the protective metal guards.
Masonry, petrol and paint bombs and other missiles were hurled at officers and water cannon vehicles were brought in.
A spokeswoman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said detectives believed dissident republicans were responsible after a Press Association photographer suffered a gun shot wound to his right leg. He went to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where his condition was described as stable.
Dissidents have been responsible for a string of attacks on members of the security forces. In April they planted an under-car explosive device which killed Constable Ronan Kerr, 25, outside his home in Omagh, Co Tyrone.
Talks with East Belfast community representatives are being held in an effort to secure an end to the violence. Democratic Unionist First Minister Peter Robinson has offered to help.
Mr Finlay said: "The UVF in East Belfast started this - there was no sense of anyone trying to finish that.
"Their hands are upon this, whether by direction, by omission or commission."
The Progressive Unionist Party has links to the UVF. Its representative John Kyle said there had been sporadic brick-throwing for some time.
"There has been a background level of simmering violence," he said.
"This sort of low level of violence has not really been addressed by the security forces or by the community organisations, so that has led to building tension and pressure."
The loyal order marching season is approaching its peak next month, traditionally a time of heightened street conflict.
The UVF is one of the biggest loyalist groups and, despite having observed a ceasefire and decommissioned its weapons, it was blamed for a murder last year.
A paramilitary watchdog found that the UVF's leadership sanctioned what was branded the "public execution" of loyalist Bobby Moffett, who was shot dead in front of shoppers on Belfast's Shankill Road.
But the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) stopped short of recommending Government sanction of the UVF.
The recent appearance of UVF murals in east Belfast depicting masked and armed men was seen as a bid by the group to stamp its mark.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
My guess is that the common love for bagpipes will unite the peoples of all Ireland and Scotland in an everlasting bond
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
It is very depressing but hopefully short lived. I really thought we had turned a corner and, although not as severe as at the height of 'the troubles' it is alarming to see such violence on Northern Irish streets again.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
the police say that things are getting out of control there and the problems will get worse when the marching season starts.
a tragedy for the law abiding majority in the province who have seen a boom in tourism and the general economy in recent years.
It's a blip - but it makes me cross when people still continue to blame Catholics - this is hard core Loyalists stirring the nest again. Both camps are eejits, but let's get the right camp when we are dishing the blame!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
the police in northern ireland blame an offshoot of the loyalist uvf.
i have never seen it as a catholic/protestant issue, more about thugs hiding behind a cause.
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
Howard
I agree with you and think it is time to stop referring to these thugs and murderers as Catholic/Protestant/Muslim or whatever; it gives a false value to their behaviours. Perhaps some of the church leaders could stand up and reclaim their faiths from these inadequates too.
It is mostly cheap and unintelligent media hacks who continue to perpetuate these stereotypes. If we stopped buying/reading their rubbish it might stop. All the newsagencies do it, from the BBC to The Sun. It is more than unhelpful, it contributes to the violence.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
just read the report again, not one mention of the words "catholic" or "protestant", says rather a lot.
i remember when the troubles restarted back in the 70's church leaders disassociated themselves very quickly from terrorist behaviour, of course there were a few renegade priests and that lunatic paisley stirring things up but on the whole the churches rose above it.
we have similar situations in glasgow and edinburgh where rival football fans claim allegiance to a faith as a motive for senseless violence, i doubt if many have ever seen the inside of a church.
You don't need to say the religion, just Loyalist or Republican will do the same job.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
actually the word "catholic" did appear, spotted it the second time around.
the strange thing is that this country does not welcome loyalists from ulster and the republic would never take over the north even it came gift wrapped.
It is complex.........!!!!
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
And the main Irish branch of my family are both Protestant and republican, from Co. Louth. There is another more distant branch, as I have discovered, who are both Catholic and loyalist, living in Derry. As you say Bern, complex indeed.
To add insult to injury we also have a family branch in Pakistan who are Christians, although many of the current generations have emigrated to the US because of persecution in Pakistan.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
maybe that is why the governments of the u.k and ireland like to keep things as they are?
many years ago i was in dublin close to election time and the irish times published a poll of what was an important election issue.
a united ireland scored 0.5%, this was at a time when irish feelings were high against the british.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
I'm for united British Isles.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Is it the Dandy you write for?
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
There is just one thing that pushes these youngsters to violence in the name of sectarianism- BOREDOM.
Just how many of them do you think would like to have a pub song written about them and their macho and exhibitionist pugnacity. If these kids can't make a difference then they make trouble. All they have to do is dust down the old man's balaclava.
I noticed that the price of petrol had not affected the number of fire bombs used.
Never give up...
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Normally the petrol is syphoned off some poor innocents persons car. Surely you didn't think these thugs paid for it..especially not when the off licence is still open and still selling tins of export dutch courage.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
It's not fair to call these many hundreds of people "thugs"; they have a version to tell, something to say, and may-be we should listen to what they have to say, on both sides of the street, and try to make a common cause for people to believe in.
Marek, I keep to my above post!
It is too easy and convenient to dump everyone concerned into the bin marked "thug". It is possible to understand behaviours without condoning or colluding with them, and probably the best shot we have at changing those behaviours or at least controlling them.
