Loyalists have no appetite for post-Brexit violence after 2012 flag protest lessons
LOYALIST community leaders have said there is no appetite for violent protest against Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, particularly after the lessons learned from the flag protests.
Senior loyalists did say there was much anger over the deal, which would in effect put a border down the Irish Sea and see firms having to complete declarations to trade between GB and Northern Ireland.
Some fear the deal paves the way to a united Ireland.
Scores of loyalists met in east Belfast’s Con Club on Monday evening to discuss their response to the PM’s withdrawal agreement and similar events are to take place over the next week.
Grand Secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland Rev Mervyn
Gibson was among those to attend. He said he hadn’t heard “one single loyalist paramilitary organisation threaten violence”.
Rev Gibson said there was “widespread disquiet” within the unionist and loyalist community over the proposals to create “economic unity”.
“I think people will want to oppose this deal but I don’t think any of those involved want violence,” he said.
“Action will be taken to try and get this stopped but nobody is calling for violence. People want to register their opposition.”
The Orange Order leader stressed he would be calling for peaceful protest. He said people were feeling betrayed, particularly by the British Government.
“Talk of violence comes from the Irish Government, particularly the Taoiseach, of violence from dissident republicans,” Rev Gibson added.
“What’s behind people’s anger is the threat of betrayal. People need to listen carefully to what the concerns are and everyone has a part to play in shaping a sensible response.”
PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne has warned of a potential for “loyalist disorder” if Brexit threatens Northern Ireland’s place in the union.
Monday’s meeting was attended by a range of high-ranking members of loyalist paramilitaries, including the UVF and UDA.
PUP leader Billy Hutchinson stressed the real issue for people was around the consent mechanism and he couldn’t see any loyalist wanting to go to jail over Brexit. He said people were angry and confused.
He said his party would be meeting with Secretary of State Julian Smith to discuss their issues and despite the assurances offered he wanted to study the “minutiae” of the situation.
The former UVF member said the EU and British and Irish governments had not taken the view of unionists and loyalists into account when reaching their Brexit deal, but again said he hadn’t heard anyone
advocating for violence.
The city councillor said that the Brexit agreement was “only a trade deal” and the issue should be kept to the political arena.
Mr Hutchinson said he was “happy”
to see protest meetings take place, adding that “there is anger and that has to come out somewhere”.
“We don’t need to get involved in any criminal behaviour, there’s no place for it,” he added.
“Are young loyalists going to go to jail over Boris Johnson and Brexit? No.”
“I don’t want to see anyone ending up with a criminal record.”
Former Red Hand Commando and east Belfast community worker Jim Wilson also attended the Con Club meeting. He acknowledged there were many different viewpoints expressed.
However, he said 99% of people were adamant that they wanted to see “anything but violence”.
“People were saying that they didn’t want our young people going through what they went through during the flag protests,” he said.
“Over 300 young people ended up with criminal records.”
Loyalists took the streets of Belfast after a 2012 decision by Belfast City Council to restrict the flying of the Union flag at City Hall.
Mr Wilson said loyalists stayed out of the Brexit debate for three years to allow politicians to “get on with it”, but they now believed they had “been shafted” because they were the path of least resistance in the eyes of the EU and the UK and Irish governments.
Mr Wilson said the upset around Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal have spread to ordinary working class people.
“Loyalists engaged with the peace process because we wanted a better way forward,” he said.
“Our views need to be taken on board.”
Dr Aaron Edwards, author of UVF Behind the Mask, said that the anger and disaffection amongst the loyalist community should not be underestimated.
“The flag protests demonstrated loyalists still have the ability to mobilise,” the University of Leicester lecturer said.