Irish Republican News, June 18, 2005
MARCH MADNESS
Nationalist residents of north Belfast were attacked last night by both
loyalists and the PSNI police following a hugely controversial march by the
Protestant Orange Order.
Scores of police Land Rovers flanked the length of the road and hundreds
of riot police descended on the community to facilitate the notorious 'Tour
of the North' march.
The PSNI had been given power by the Parades Commission to decide the
route to be taken by the loyalist supporters of the contentious parade.
But there was shock among the local residents as the loyalists, including
known paramilitaries, were allowed to walk past defenceless nationalist
homes in Ardoyne.
March marshals were among those who attacked Catholic residents.
One woman received a broken arm after being attacked outside her house by
loyalists, while others were attacked inside their own home.
Another family were openly threatened by a leading member of the Orange
Order.
The PSNI turned their batons on nationalist residents attempting to defend
their community. Efforts by local politicians to quell the growing
violence proved in vain, and police brought in water cannon as a full-scale
riot developed.
Holy Cross parish priest Father Aidan Troy said he believed that there
should not be another such parade past Ardoyne until an agreement was
reached between the two communities.
"I feel deeply saddened that once again this community has been plunged
back into violence," he said.
"These kind of scenes benefit no-one and I honestly feel that there can't
be another march like this along the Crumlin Road until some sort of
agreement is brokered between both sides.
"I witnessed hand-to-hand fighting between loyalists and residents and
after that the police and residents.
"It is totally unacceptable that this community is plunged back into this
situation every summer."
Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly said the Parades Commission's decision to allow
the loyal orders and supporters to march past Ardoyne had been "crazy" and
a "recipe for disaster".
"I watched nationalist residents getting beaten by loyalist stewards and
then by the PSNI," he said.
"The PSNI then tried to arrest the nationalists after they had been
attacked by the loyalists.
"I warned the Parades Commission that it was madness to allow two marches
along the Crumlin Road but they didn't listen.
"Now when the loyalists have got up the road there is a stand-off with
nationalists because the PSNI refuse to pull back. "This community is very
angry and feels that it has been abused yet again."
* The 'Red Hand Defenders', a cover name for the UDA, last night warned
that members of the Ardoyne residents group were considered 'legitimate
targets'.
