N. Irish Catholics clash with police after march

By Jodie Ginsberg

BELFAST (Reuters) – Catholic protesters hurled blast bombs,
petrol bombs and bricks at police in Northern Ireland on
Tuesday in a violent demonstration against Protestants marching
through their area of Belfast.

About 50 police officers and 10 demonstrators were injured
in clashes after police used water cannon to disperse the
crowds who had gathered to vent their anger against Protestants
passing through the largely Catholic Ardoyne area in a tense
climax to the “marching season.”

Thousands of pro-British Protestants parade through the
streets during the marching season to celebrate a 300-year-old
battlefield victory over Catholics.

The parade passed off peacefully but violence broke out
when police used water cannon on protesters who had hurled a
handful of missiles toward the marchers.

Gerry Adams, leader of Northern Ireland’s main Catholic
party Sinn Fein, told Reuters he thought the police had been
too quick to react against protesters and it was difficult to
calm the situation down.

“Every time a steward goes over there, they’re getting
soaked,” he said as helicopters circled overhead.

But Superintendent Gary White, who was in charge of
policing the Ardoyne area, said the response had been
appropriate.

“I do not think anyone could throw the allegation at us
tonight that we were heavy handed.”

Tuesday’s Orange Order parades mark William of Orange’s
defeat of the deposed Catholic king, James II, at the Battle of
the Boyne on July 12, 1690. The battle cemented Protestant
ascendancy on both sides of the Irish Sea.

“WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED”

Some 60 Ardoyne residents had held a sit-down protest
following a decision by the Parades Commission, set up by
Britain in 1997 to rule on contentious marches, to allow a
march through the area.

They linked arms and chanted “we shall not be moved” as
police in riot gear moved in to take them away them one by one.

Armored police and army vans lined the streets and shields
were erected to allow the outward parade through.

Although the violence of Northern Ireland’s three-decade
sectarian conflict has largely ended following paramilitary
ceasefires and a 1998 peace deal, marches often spark conflict
between Protestants and nationalist Catholics, who favor a
united Ireland.

Tensions are running high this year after an attack on a
Catholic home in Belfast at the weekend and as feuding grows
between rival Protestant factions.

July 12 is a public holiday in Northern Ireland. In
Belfast, thousands of people sat out along the route of the
main parade to cheer on the Orangemen, who march to the
accompaniment of pipes, drums and accordions.