14 policemen injured in Northern Ireland clashes

[Arthur Gordon Pym]

14 policemen injured in Northern Ireland clashes

Web posted at: 7/13/2008 1:47:17

Source ::: Agencies


LONDON • Violent overnight clashes in Northern Ireland left 14 policemen and five other people injured early yesterday as the volatile “marching season” reached its climax with Protestant parades.

The policemen came under attack with gasoline bombs, missiles, stones, bottles and other objects in two nationalist areas in Belfast and Portadown, said a policewoman who asked not to be identified because of departmental policy. The nationalist areas are Roman Catholic strongholds.

Four of the officers needed hospital treatment, but none of the injuries was life-threatening, she said.

Irish broadcaster said some were inspired by Irish nationalists opposed to Protestant marches through Catholic neighbourhoods.

The Protestant Orange Order, a conservative anti-Catholic brotherhood, organizes marches on July 12 to mark the 318th anniversary of the Protestant victory in 1690 over Catholics in the Battle of the Boyne. The traditional marches have in the past been marked by widespread violence.

The worst clashes early Saturday developed in the largely Protestant town of Portadown near Obin Street, a predominantly Catholic area, police said.

After the confrontation, which was calmed by community representatives, police said two men were arrested and charged with rioting and other offenses. One remained in custody, and a second was freed but will have to appear in court on July 18, police said.

The names of the two men arrested would not be released, police said.

There was also a clash in the hardline Catholic New Lodge area of Belfast, where a crowd of about 50 people attacked officers and a policeman suffered leg injuries.
Five more suspects were arrested at that confrontation and charged with rioting and other crimes.
Two rival groups fought in West Belfast, and five people were injured and needing hospitalization, police said.

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[Menydh]

A joint rally of anti-Catholic Loyalists and British police, through the streets of Catholic neighbourhoods. I hope that they were properly received.

[Llywarch Hen]

Originally Posted by Menydh

A joint rally of anti-Catholic Loyalists and British police

British in the sense that they work for an arm of the British state. Probably majority Irish by birth. Doubtless a slight majority Northern Irish Protestant by ethnoconfessional identification, but equally doubtless there were a high proportion of officers from an Irish Catholic background trying to preserve law and order there. The reformed Royal Ulster Constabulary has under its new name (I forget what exactly - probably Northern Ireland Constabulary or the like) been very successful in recruiting from the Catholic community, so that numbers are almost equal now.

The role of the police in these situations is to physically separate the worst troublemakers on both sides. You make it sound as if they were assisting a pogrom!

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Llywarch Hen

British in the sense that they work for an arm of the British state.

Yes, an occupying state.

The role of the police in these situations is to physically separate the worst troublemakers on both sides. You make it sound as if they were assisting a pogrom!

That's been often the case.