Loyalists vow Dublin flag protests will be peaceful
Posted by nesaraaustralia ⋅ January 7, 2013 ⋅ Leave a Comment
Filed Under aviation, loyalist protesters, politics, ulster loyalists
By Luke Byrne and Anna MaguireMonday, 7 January 2013
The
organisers of a planned demonstration in Dublin over the Belfast Union
flag dispute will keep the event small in the hope that it passes off
peacefully.
Loyalist activist Willie Frazer has said the demonstration will take place outside Leinster House at noon on Saturday.
Mr Frazer told the Irish Independent that the 150 places available on
the three buses that will leave from Northern Ireland filled within a
few hours of the announcement.
But he said that no further buses will be made available and that he hopes the protest can pass off peacefully.
“This is not about swamping Dublin or bringing 500 or 600 people
down. It’s about making our point in a peaceful manner,” he said.
Mr Frazer has said Ulster loyalists will ask “sarcastically” that the
Irish tricolour is lowered at the demonstration to give Irish people “a
sense of how we feel”.
But the demonstrators are likely to be disappointed. An Oireachtas
spokesman confirmed that the flag will not be flying on the day of the
protest.
The Tricolour only flies over Leinster House when the Dail or Seanad is in official session.
Mr Frazer’s comments came as shots were fired at police officers in Belfast by loyalist protesters.
A 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder,
while two others were also detained amid ongoing street disturbances.
And rioting erupted in East Belfast again last night, with thugs
hijacking and burning a car on the Woodstock Link. A car was also burnt
out on Castlereagh Street as riot police moved in to disperse
protesters.
Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore condemned the attacks and said that the Irish
government fully supported the efforts of Northern Ireland’s elected
leaders to resolve the flags issue.
“These attacks over the past three days are not the mark of
legitimate protest but are the actions of a small group who want to
bring Northern Ireland back to a darker past.”
Meanwhile, a young mother and councillor has blamed “fascists” for an
attack on her home. SDLP councillor Claire Hanna said seven shots were
fired at her home from a high-powered ball-bearing gun last Thursday
evening.
Ms Hanna, her husband and baby daughter returned from holidaying in
the Republic to find three downstairs windows of their home shattered
and their front door damaged.
The attack is being investigated by police. Ms Hanna said the “cowardly” attack had disgusted her.
Last month, expectant mother Christine Bower (27) and her husband
Michael (26) — both of whom are Alliance councillors — were among a
number of politicians whose homes were targeted amid violence.
Tonight sees Belfast city councillors meet for the first time since
violence flared outside City Hall on December 3 — leading to five weeks
of street protests and mayhem.
A council spokeswoman has said that an appropriate policing operation will be put in place ahead of tonight’s meeting.
However, councillors said they were unaware if additional security
measures would be deployed to prevent the scenes witnessed last month.
Rioting loyalists injured 15 PSNI members, two council security
guards and a press photographer outside City Hall last month, when they
tried to smash their way into Belfast City Hall after the vote to limit
the flying of the union flag.
Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/loyalists-vow-dublin-flag-protests-will-be-peaceful-16258222.html#ixzz2HGMv4mFz
Thanks to: http://nesaraaustralia.com
Posted by nesaraaustralia ⋅ January 7, 2013 ⋅ Leave a Comment
Filed Under aviation, loyalist protesters, politics, ulster loyalists
By Luke Byrne and Anna MaguireMonday, 7 January 2013
The
organisers of a planned demonstration in Dublin over the Belfast Union
flag dispute will keep the event small in the hope that it passes off
peacefully.
Loyalist activist Willie Frazer has said the demonstration will take place outside Leinster House at noon on Saturday.
Mr Frazer told the Irish Independent that the 150 places available on
the three buses that will leave from Northern Ireland filled within a
few hours of the announcement.
But he said that no further buses will be made available and that he hopes the protest can pass off peacefully.
“This is not about swamping Dublin or bringing 500 or 600 people
down. It’s about making our point in a peaceful manner,” he said.
Mr Frazer has said Ulster loyalists will ask “sarcastically” that the
Irish tricolour is lowered at the demonstration to give Irish people “a
sense of how we feel”.
But the demonstrators are likely to be disappointed. An Oireachtas
spokesman confirmed that the flag will not be flying on the day of the
protest.
The Tricolour only flies over Leinster House when the Dail or Seanad is in official session.
Mr Frazer’s comments came as shots were fired at police officers in Belfast by loyalist protesters.
A 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder,
while two others were also detained amid ongoing street disturbances.
And rioting erupted in East Belfast again last night, with thugs
hijacking and burning a car on the Woodstock Link. A car was also burnt
out on Castlereagh Street as riot police moved in to disperse
protesters.
Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore condemned the attacks and said that the Irish
government fully supported the efforts of Northern Ireland’s elected
leaders to resolve the flags issue.
“These attacks over the past three days are not the mark of
legitimate protest but are the actions of a small group who want to
bring Northern Ireland back to a darker past.”
Meanwhile, a young mother and councillor has blamed “fascists” for an
attack on her home. SDLP councillor Claire Hanna said seven shots were
fired at her home from a high-powered ball-bearing gun last Thursday
evening.
Ms Hanna, her husband and baby daughter returned from holidaying in
the Republic to find three downstairs windows of their home shattered
and their front door damaged.
The attack is being investigated by police. Ms Hanna said the “cowardly” attack had disgusted her.
Last month, expectant mother Christine Bower (27) and her husband
Michael (26) — both of whom are Alliance councillors — were among a
number of politicians whose homes were targeted amid violence.
Tonight sees Belfast city councillors meet for the first time since
violence flared outside City Hall on December 3 — leading to five weeks
of street protests and mayhem.
A council spokeswoman has said that an appropriate policing operation will be put in place ahead of tonight’s meeting.
However, councillors said they were unaware if additional security
measures would be deployed to prevent the scenes witnessed last month.
Rioting loyalists injured 15 PSNI members, two council security
guards and a press photographer outside City Hall last month, when they
tried to smash their way into Belfast City Hall after the vote to limit
the flying of the union flag.
Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/loyalists-vow-dublin-flag-protests-will-be-peaceful-16258222.html#ixzz2HGMv4mFz
Thanks to: http://nesaraaustralia.com