Northern Ireland: Riots Erupt During Protestant March in Ardoyne, North Belfast

By Larry Habegger | Permalink | No Comments | July 16th, 2009 | Trackback

Riots erupted during a Protestant march in the north Belfast district of Ardoyne July 13, injuring 21 police officers and raising concerns that a splinter group was trying to undermine the peace process and turn the province back into a region of hatred and violence. Police officials felt it was difficult to blame the violence on any one group but Sinn Fein officials, who represent Catholics in the power-sharing government, blamed the Real IRA, a Catholic splinter group opposed to reconciliation between Protestants and Catholics. Political parties on both sides of the government condemned the violence and vowed that it would not stymie the progress already made in resolving decades of conflict. The violence occurred on a public holiday that marks the victory of Protestant King William of Orange over James II’s Catholics at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

Home » Europe, United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Demonstrations/Protests, Urban violence

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