Flags and Symbols (16/07/15)
The annual display of religious intolerance by supporters of the Orange Order has been on display in Northern Ireland over the past few days, culminating in another ugly night of violence and rioting in Belfast.
Now the issues at stake are very similar to those surrounding the use of the Confederate flag in parts of the United States where some people view the The Stainless Banner flag as a symbol of their 'culture', while others regard it as a symbol of racial hatred, slavery and political oppression.
And while Orange Order leaders are careful not to encourage or condone the violence that accompanies their marches, they continue to denounce the independent Parades Commission for ruling that they should not be allowed to parade through predominantly Catholic areas where their flags and symbols are not welcome.
BBC Northern Ireland
A car had to be overturned to free the teenage girl trapped beneath it
Twenty-four police officers were injured and a 16-year-old girl was struck by a car as trouble flared in north Belfast.
She was hit by the car and became trapped underneath it at Crumlin Road.
One police officer was bitten so badly on the hand that he received 12 stitches, the Police Federation said.
Officers were injured as missiles were thrown when police enforced a restriction to a contentious Orange parade.
Twenty-four police officers were injured and a 16-year-old girl was struck by a car as trouble flared in north Belfast.
She was hit by the car and became trapped underneath it at Crumlin Road.
One police officer was bitten so badly on the hand that he received 12 stitches, the Police Federation said.
Officers were injured as missiles were thrown when police enforced a restriction to a contentious Orange parade.
A teenager who was struck by the car was taken to hospital
A PSNI press officer said the 24 injuries included officers hurt in the car incident in Ardoyne.
A number of the officers remained on duty.
The Orange Order was barred from walking along a stretch of the Crumlin Road that separates unionist and nationalist communities on its return from an annual celebration.
Chris Buckler, BBC Ireland Correspondent
It is worth bearing in mind that last night's violence was nowhere near as serious or as sustained as the trouble which followed the same restricted parade in 2013.
However, that will be of little comfort to those looking for a solution to the problems and division linked to this annual march.
And there will be frustration, given that the same parade was peaceful last year, albeit with protests and a show of loyalist frustration.
The police clearly believed at first that 2015 could pass of without trouble. They put in place low level barriers and, on the frontline, there was a line of officers rather than Land Rovers.
But shortly after the parade arrived at the barriers, the mood changed and a group at the front started attacking police lines with bricks, bottles, bolts and even bits of their own barrier.
Officers in riot gear were forced to respond in order to hold the line and later in the evening, water cannon was used to hold loyalist protesters back.
That has resulted in another Twelfth where the dominant images are not pictures of celebrations but photographs of violent clashes.
It is worth bearing in mind that last night's violence was nowhere near as serious or as sustained as the trouble which followed the same restricted parade in 2013.
However, that will be of little comfort to those looking for a solution to the problems and division linked to this annual march.
And there will be frustration, given that the same parade was peaceful last year, albeit with protests and a show of loyalist frustration.
The police clearly believed at first that 2015 could pass of without trouble. They put in place low level barriers and, on the frontline, there was a line of officers rather than Land Rovers.
But shortly after the parade arrived at the barriers, the mood changed and a group at the front started attacking police lines with bricks, bottles, bolts and even bits of their own barrier.
Officers in riot gear were forced to respond in order to hold the line and later in the evening, water cannon was used to hold loyalist protesters back.
That has resulted in another Twelfth where the dominant images are not pictures of celebrations but photographs of violent clashes.
Some loyalists broke through barriers at the police line and began to throw bottles, bricks and metal bolts at police on Monday evening.
The Orange lodges and accompanying bands were returning from a parade to commemorate the victory of the Protestant King William III at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
The trouble began at about 19:30 BST.
But it escalated after a car struck several pedestrians at the nearby Ardoyne shops.
It happened as a crowd of nationalists gathered in protest close to the contentious Orange parade.
The vehicle trapped the girl underneath and was lifted off by police and members of the public.
She was treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to hospital. It's understood she is now stable. A man was arrested by police and remains in custody.
Police said two officers were hurt as they dealt with that incident.
Trapped
Fr Gary Donegan, of Holy Cross Catholic Church, who was at the scene, said a driver "panicked" and drove into a crowd, injuring three people.
He told BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster: "The car hit a number of pedestrians and, in the case of this 16 year old, the car went right over the top of her.
"PSNI officers and local residents managed to lift the car off her. There were graphic scenes of seeing her feet sticking out from underneath the car.
"You could actually see the marks of the vehicle on the back of her jeans. She was very distressed."
The Orange lodges and accompanying bands were returning from a parade to commemorate the victory of the Protestant King William III at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
The trouble began at about 19:30 BST.
But it escalated after a car struck several pedestrians at the nearby Ardoyne shops.
It happened as a crowd of nationalists gathered in protest close to the contentious Orange parade.
The vehicle trapped the girl underneath and was lifted off by police and members of the public.
She was treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to hospital. It's understood she is now stable. A man was arrested by police and remains in custody.
Police said two officers were hurt as they dealt with that incident.
Trapped
Fr Gary Donegan, of Holy Cross Catholic Church, who was at the scene, said a driver "panicked" and drove into a crowd, injuring three people.
He told BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster: "The car hit a number of pedestrians and, in the case of this 16 year old, the car went right over the top of her.
"PSNI officers and local residents managed to lift the car off her. There were graphic scenes of seeing her feet sticking out from underneath the car.
"You could actually see the marks of the vehicle on the back of her jeans. She was very distressed."
There was a heavy police presence in north Belfast
The situation in north Belfast remained tense overnight
Water cannon was used by police
A loyalist supporter on the Woodvale Road in north Belfast
There was a heavy security presence on the Woodvale Road
Riot police were on patrol monitoring the situation
The Orange Order was barred from parading along a stretch of the Crumlin Road in north Belfast
On the other side of the police lines, on the Crumlin Road, a teenager was injured in an incident involving a car
An ambulance attended the scene on the Crumlin Road
The violence followed a day of largely peaceful 12 July loyal order parades across Northern Ireland.
First Minister Peter Robinson condemned it.
"The PSNI is tasked with upholding the rule of law and it is vital that those involved in such riotous activity cease and are held accountable. They do a massive disservice to the wider cause they claim to support," the DUP leader said.
"My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been injured whilst serving the public, as well as the young girl who has been injured in a vehicle collision."
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said the attacks on police were "disgraceful".
"Those responsible do nothing to further the cause they claim to promote," she said. "They damage Northern Ireland and wreck a day which should be about respectful celebration of cultural tradition."
North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds, DUP, said there was a "severe problem in relation to community relations and respect for law and order".
"The way forward is to recognise the failures of the past cannot be repeated and a new way forward for parading and protesting is badly needed," he said.
The Orange Order also condemned those engaging in violence and issued an appeal for calm.
"Those involved in violence should desist," a Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland spokesman said.
"It is not only counterproductive, but also plain wrong.
"Such actions are only strengthening the hand of those who wish to further curtail our parades."
Chairman of the Police Federation Mark Lindsay condemned what he called "mindless violence".
"At the Ardoyne shops, officers performed heroically after lifting a car to rescue a seriously injured 16-year-old girl following a road traffic collision," he said.
"In the mean-time, other officers were the subject of a sustained attack by rioters using bricks and bolts. These rioters had obviously come prepared to cause disorder.
"Once again, officers demonstrated their patience and professionalism even though their lines were under attack."
He said the officer who was bitten had been lucky not to lose a finger.
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ivan Lewis, said the police and members of the public, had "endured unacceptable levels of violence and disorder".
The violence followed a day of largely peaceful 12 July loyal order parades across Northern Ireland.
First Minister Peter Robinson condemned it.
"The PSNI is tasked with upholding the rule of law and it is vital that those involved in such riotous activity cease and are held accountable. They do a massive disservice to the wider cause they claim to support," the DUP leader said.
"My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been injured whilst serving the public, as well as the young girl who has been injured in a vehicle collision."
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said the attacks on police were "disgraceful".
"Those responsible do nothing to further the cause they claim to promote," she said. "They damage Northern Ireland and wreck a day which should be about respectful celebration of cultural tradition."
North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds, DUP, said there was a "severe problem in relation to community relations and respect for law and order".
"The way forward is to recognise the failures of the past cannot be repeated and a new way forward for parading and protesting is badly needed," he said.
The Orange Order also condemned those engaging in violence and issued an appeal for calm.
"Those involved in violence should desist," a Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland spokesman said.
"It is not only counterproductive, but also plain wrong.
"Such actions are only strengthening the hand of those who wish to further curtail our parades."
Chairman of the Police Federation Mark Lindsay condemned what he called "mindless violence".
"At the Ardoyne shops, officers performed heroically after lifting a car to rescue a seriously injured 16-year-old girl following a road traffic collision," he said.
"In the mean-time, other officers were the subject of a sustained attack by rioters using bricks and bolts. These rioters had obviously come prepared to cause disorder.
"Once again, officers demonstrated their patience and professionalism even though their lines were under attack."
He said the officer who was bitten had been lucky not to lose a finger.
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ivan Lewis, said the police and members of the public, had "endured unacceptable levels of violence and disorder".
