Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SHAME OF GOOD FRIDAY
Police come under attack during riots in loyalist area of city
POLICE came under attack last night after a loyalist protest on Good Friday ended in violence.
Officers were targeted in the Sandy Row area of South Belfast by a crowd of mostly young people throwing bottles, bricks, pallets and tyres.
Justice Minister Naomi Long said: “This is in no one’s best interests, not
the officers dealing with it and not the mostly young people risking their futures by engaging in it.
“It’s incumbent on leaders to behave responsibly and dial down the inflammatory rhetoric over recent days. Words have consequences.”
The incident started in the Shaftesbury Square area before moving into nearby Sandy Row.
Anti-protocol banners were displayed while social media activity suggested the gathering was linked to this week’s fallout from the Bobby Storey funeral. Earlier in the day, young men were pictured holding banners which said: “Sandy Row says no to Irish Sea border.
“The battles we refuse to fight today become the hardships we must endure tomorrow.”
Scenes of chaos were captured in dramatic footage plastered over the internet showing rows of PSNI officers dressed in riot gear.
Councillor Peter Mcreynolds said: “Profoundly disappointed and saddened by the scenes taking place in Belfast this evening. And for what reason?
Some politicians in Northern Ireland should hang their head in shame for leading us to this.”
And there were strong words from Green Party Councillor Brian Smyth.
He tweeted: “Working class kids in loyalist areas rioting, while the old men who stirred the pot, sit in their comfortable houses and as history has shown, will wash their hands of them.
“Pawns who will end up with criminal records, expendable futures, opportunities more limited.
“Grim.”