Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland: Security Tightened after Dissident Republican Threat

Date: February 14th, 2008 |

The Police Service of Northern Ireland warned Feb. 6 of an increased threat from dissident republicans throughout the province. Violence has diminished substantially in Northern Ireland in recent years as a power sharing government has taken root and put an end to “the Troubles,” but the potential for incidents still exists. Officials warned business owners [read more]

Northern Ireland: Violent Protests in Belfast

Date: September 13th, 2005 |

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The worst Protestant violence in a decade occurred Sept. 10-12 when Protestant marchers were forbidden to parade along the boundary of Catholic west Belfast. Main roads were blocked by demonstrators, two outlawed Protestant paramilitary groups attacked police with machine guns and grenades, rioters tossed fire bombs at police and threw stones at traffic on two [read more]

Northern Ireland

Date: June 25th, 2002 |

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Protestant marching season is again igniting tensions in Northern Ireland, with clashes between Catholics and Protestants occurring in North Belfast last weekend after a march through predominantly Catholic areas. The biggest celebrations across Northern Ireland occur on July 12, the anniversary of a 17th century victory by Protestant forces and a source of deep resentment [read more]

Northern Ireland

Date: June 19th, 2002 |

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Garvaghy Road in Portadown became a flashpoint of sectarian violence once again when youths from the Protestant Orange Order marched into a Catholic neighborhood May 29. Police attempting to keep the groups separated were hit by bricks from both sides but succeeded in keeping injuries to a minimum. Garvaghy Road has been the site of [read more]

Northern Ireland

Date: May 13th, 2002 |

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The deadline for convening a provincial government including parties from all sides of the political divide has been extended to April 2, Good Friday, because of disagreements about IRA disarmament. Tension has been growing in recent weeks and bombings, riots, and the assassination of a Catholic human rights lawyer have occurred. Protestant marching season, which [read more]

Northern Ireland: New Hotel in Heart of the “Troubles”

Date: March 21st, 2006 |

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In the village of Crossmaglen in County Armagh, on the border with the Republic of Ireland, the Cross Square Hotel opened on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. It is said to be the first hotel to open in the village in more than 100 years, a village that was once considered the world’s most dangerous [read more]

Northern Ireland

Date: February 8th, 2005 |

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Talks attempting to resolve conflicts between Protestant and Catholic political parties and reestablish a power-sharing assembly that has been suspended since 2002 dissolved into crisis when the IRA announced it was withdrawing from peace negotiations and rescinding its proposals to disarm. The move was a reaction to what the IRA called bad faith and false [read more]

Northern Ireland

Date: June 19th, 2002 |

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A Catholic woman was killed by a bomb thrown into her house in Portadown June 5, increasing the likelihood of more trouble in the coming weeks as the dates for Protestant marches approach. Police blamed the attack on Protestant loyalist militants who are trying to destroy the peace process. The incident was so serious that [read more]

Northern Ireland

Date: June 11th, 2002 |

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Paramilitaries on both sides of the Northern Ireland conflict have been orchestrating recent unrest in East Belfast and other areas of the city, with outbreaks occurring along the “peace wall” in Short Strand and in South Belfast’s Donegall Pass area. The peace wall is designed to separate the Protestant loyalist community from Catholic areas, and [read more]

Northern Ireland

Date: April 9th, 2002 |

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The IRA decommissioned more weapons in a move that represents progress toward a lasting peace, although Protestant “loyalists” dismissed the move as political posturing. Despite such accusations, decommissioning has been the main stumbling block to peace all along, so this action can only help. Loyalist paramilitaries were behind three nights of riots in North Belfast [read more]