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| Britain |
| Trouble Erupts in Belfast |
| 2004-07-13 |
| Loyalists and Nationalists pelted each other with missiles as Orangemen marched through a bitterly contested north Belfast flashpoint. Stones, bottles and golf balls were hurled as several hundred on either side were kept apart by a massive security operation in the Ardoyne district.Rival factions were also involved in a developing standoff along neighbouring backstreets. Youths attacked riot squad troops amid heightening tensions over the hotly disputed decision to impose restrictions on the Orange order returning from the city centre through the staunchly Catholic area. At one stage a crowd of nationalists seized control of army batons and shields and attacked a small pocket of soldiers who were hemmed in around their Land Rover. Politicians and police had earlier appealed for restraint as the Orangemen celebrated the 314th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne. The Parades Commission has told Orangemen from Ballysillan they could march up the Crumlin Road past the interface with the nationalist Ardoyne, but not with their bands and supporters. The decision angered both the Orange Order and nationalists who say there should be no parade on the route. |
| Posted by:Howard UK |
| #12 I remember learning this Belfast street ditty of long ago: King Billy was a gentleman he wore a watch and chain The Pope he was a beggarman And lived on Chapel Lane King Billy had an Orange cat that sat upon the fender And every time it caught a mouse He shouted "NO SURRENDER" |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-07-13 7:26:01 PM |
| #11 ...or maybe Gangs of New York? |
| Posted by: eLarson 2004-07-13 7:17:01 PM |
| #10 I remember that the Orangemen would always want to take their Big Drum et al and march through the Catholic areas on the Glorious Twelveth of July. Everyone needed to cool it. Last time I was in Belfast, we went pub crawling. Driving around there at night was like a version of Blade Runner. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-07-13 2:31:29 PM |
| #9 Boys will be boys.Nobody was shooting which is great news. |
| Posted by: Stephen 2004-07-13 1:28:02 PM |
| #8 Sounds like a good time was had by all. I think the violence just needs to be formalized. Perhaps real football would do the trick. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-07-13 12:40:14 PM |
| #7 Sorry Steve, I can't even joke about the UN anymore - it's so f*cking pathetic. |
| Posted by: Spot 2004-07-13 10:00:04 AM |
| #6 Send for the UN! Would be nice for the Army boys to see stones bouncing off the blue helmets for a change... |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2004-07-13 8:27:33 AM |
| #5 It's a quagmire! Send for the UN! |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-07-13 8:24:54 AM |
| #4 Sectarian lunacy - it's not just for the Middle East! |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2004-07-13 6:58:06 AM |
| #3 Is there something about 'taters? |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2004-07-13 6:57:11 AM |
| #2 The Catholic terrorists are causing havoc in the region and need to be disarmed immediately |
| Posted by: Refb 2004-07-13 6:50:14 AM |
| #1 We believe in Freedom, we won our right that day At the Battle of the Boyne - we're very proud to say. James he was defeated - Justice had been done Raise now a glass to King William. . |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2004-07-13 6:19:23 AM |