Bitterly divided Belfast stays peaceful as 30,000 Unionists march through Catholic streets without clashing

[Bev]

A contentious Unionist parade marking the centenary of the pro-Union Ulster Covenant remained peaceful today, after police in Northern Ireland mounted their biggest security operation in 20 years.

Around 30,000 protestants from eight Unionist organisations, including members of the Orange Order, marched through Belfast to celebrate the signing of the Ulster Covenant by half a million of their ancestors - a pact opposing the introduction of devolved government in Ireland.

While three decades of turmoil between mainly Catholic nationalists and pro-British Protestants was largely ended by a 1998 peace deal, sporadic violence has grown in recent years and a far smaller march earlier this month incited three nights of rioting.



Thousands of Orange men and women parade past the statue of Edward Carson at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Northern Ireland


A crowd of over 1000 Unionist supporters gather at the end of Donegall Street to welcome the parade


Orange Order members arrive at Stormont in Belfast, part of the 30,000 unionists taking part in the parade

Hundreds of police officers were on duty outside a Catholic church in the north of the city – flagged up as a security hot spot - as 2,000 Protestants and bandsmen passed peacefully by.

Although there we no violent incidents, police have said they will look into claims the bands breached an agreement with the Parades Commission to only to play only hymns outside St Patrick's Church.


Protesters and residents claimed bands played the most famous Unionist anthem - The Sash - before reaching the end of the stretch.


Police Officers stand guard in the Centre of Belfast during the parades - which saw the biggest security operation in 20 years



Orange Order members march passed St Patrick's Church in Belfast, during the massive loyal order parade


Loyalist women watch an Orange Order parade in the city centre dressed in Union Jack colours

The place of worship has been the scene of disorder at points during the summer after a band was accused of playing sectarian music outside it on July 12.

Marchers went on to gather at Belfast's City Hall, where the covenant was signed, and then marched six miles to Stormont, the home of Northern Ireland's power-sharing government where religious services, music and dancing were held.

The commission also restricted to 150 the number of Catholic protestors, who waved black flags and held banners urging respect for their church.

A spokesman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said any claims of breaches of the agreement with the commission would be investigated.


Young Lambeg drummers welcome Orange Order members as they arrive at Stormont in Belfast


Police lined the streets to ensure the parade was safe throughout the day, with the only problems reported to be about breaches of an agreement about music



Nationalist protesters took to the streets during the campaign with a banner reading 'respect our community'

He added: ‘Police have an extensive evidence-gathering operation in place and any breaches of the Parades Commission determination will be investigated and reported accordingly.’

But, Father Michael Sheehan, administrator of St Patrick's, said while some of the bands beat their drums exuberantly, he believed they showed respect during the 20-minute march outside the church.

He insisted the talks with the Parades Commission had been fruitful, saying continued dialogue was needed to avoid future trouble.

'They marched with dignity down the road,' added Fr Sheehan.

'I think a degree of respect was shown that hasn't been shown before.'


Orangemen hold their flags high as they prepare to parade through the streets of Belfast



Around 30,000 men and women parade up to Parliament Buildings, in Stormont to mark one of the most significant dates in unionist history

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2210577/Bitterly-divided-Belfast-stays-peaceful-30-000-Unionists-march-Catholic-streets-clashing-protesters.html

[Bev]

Selection of comments:

Re your headline, can you give us the name of the "Catholic streets" these marchers paraded along? Would one of them be Clifton Street, which at the junction of Carrick Hill and North Queen Street becomes Donegall Street, where St Patrick's RC Church is situated? If so, I'd love your reporter to show me the rows of residents' houses on it? Nobody lives on Clifton Street or Donegall Street, Catholic or Protestant, and your headline gives the impression (which is presumably your intention) of Protestant bully boys rampaging through Catholic homes, Get real and wise up. Also, a parade 'incited' three nights of rioting? Ardoyne, you mean? Well, for the past few years, that small parade has been the excuse for plenty of rioting, but what happens every year when the police round up and charge the rioters after the reporters have gone? Why, some of these 'residents' have travelled as far as sixty miles from their homes to be 'incited.' Some people will go a long way to be offended!

"30,000 Unionists march through Catholic streets " where does the DM get it's information from ? the streets were not "catholic", it is a main road and there are no houses on that section, the orange men have marched down that road a couple of times each year for 100 years or more with no problems until a month ago, ask the IRA dissidents why there was trouble last month. the same with the trouble at ardoyne every year, it is stirred up by dissident IRA. they won't be happy until the protestant culture doesn't exist anymore. so much for a shared future.

A key quote from Father Michael Sheehan unfortunately is buried at the end of this article. The march was dignified. What a pity the headline tries to paint a different picture! ''Father Michael Sheehan, administrator of St Patrick's, said while some of the bands beat their drums exuberantly, he believed they showed respect during the 20-minute march outside the church. He insisted the talks with the Parades Commission had been fruitful, saying continued dialogue was needed to avoid future trouble. 'They marched with dignity down the road,' added Fr Sheehan.''

A fantastic day. I'd say your numbers may be slightly off though; the parade took over four and a half hours to pass any given point and we in Belfast County arrived at Stormont at half past one. By 4.45pm we had to leave and County Tyrone was still arriving through the gates. The 30,000 may not include the nearly 200 bands with approximately 40-50 members of each? Fortunately all the rumours of the death of Orangeism have been greatly exaggerated and I trust today was a wake-up call to those who deride us as an old man's club and the dignity that we showed, not just outside St Patrick's but also along the route will be acknowledged.

Excellent - a peaceful march carried out respectfully by the Loyal people of Ulster.

[andy]

Is this tweet genuine ?

[Bev]

Originally Posted by andy

Is this tweet genuine ?

https://twitter.com/nickgriffinmep

It appears so.

It has caused a backlash in the twitterverse.

Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson calls for answers/explanation on the presence of Nick Griffin at Stormont yesterday.

SDLP Cllr Nichola Mallon lodges incitement to hatred complaint with #PSNI against @nickgriffinmep re “fenian bastards” tweet #covenant

[andy]

Originally Posted by Bev

https://twitter.com/nickgriffinmep

It appears so.

It has caused a backlash in the twitterverse.

Oh dear, lets hope that unlike on previous occasions his billy boy mates can protect as he will need him at branch relaunch in the leafy suburb should he show up.

[Bev]

BNP LEADER NICK GRIFFIN has said he will not apolgise for comments he made on Twitter after yesterday’s Ulster Covenant event at Stormont in Belfast.

After tweeting pictures from the Orange Order Parade, which was attended by thousands of unionists yesterday, Griffin said he received several abusive messages from republicans and hit back with the following response:


Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster, Griffin said his comment was not aimed at Catholics in general but referred to “the republican grievance exploitation machine who were leaving foul-mouthed tweets” on his Twitter feed.

“If they want to leave vast amounts of foul-mouthed abuse on my Twitter feed when I’m showing people on the mainland, primarily, a part of the culture of Britain that they don’t see much of, and if that upset a group of republicans, I’m not going to apologise,” he said.

After the interview Griffin returned to the social networking site commenting that if republican’s “skins were any thinner they’d leak green slime all over Stormont carpets”.

The SDLP have lodged a complaint with police over the MEP’s comments.

http://www.thejournal.ie/nick-griffin-twitter-616668-Sep2012/

[EDLIE Stampton]

Originally Posted by andy

Is this tweet genuine ?

It most certainly is aNDY.The wanker has been doing the no suspenders shit today.

[Henry.]

Whenever he gets the chance Griffin manages to fuck-up with an ease that might be described as 'uncanny'.

[EDLIE Stampton]

Classic........ Liam 44 minutes ago #


If you gave nick griffin an enema, you could put him in a matchbox.