City Hall Protest Condemned

Trouble that led to two people being charged with public order offences after yesterday's Belfast protest against plans to raise third level tuition fees has been condemned.

DUP Assembly Member for South Belfast and Policing Board Member, Jimmy Spratt MLA said: "The scenes witnessed in front of the City Hall were a total disgrace and should be condemned.

"In a democratic society people have the right to protest, what they do not have the right to do is launch physical violence against the legitimate forces of law and order.

"I have no doubt that many students who attended the protest at the City Hall were intent on making their point peacefully, but it is apparent that there was an element who were determined to confront the police and emulate the disgraceful antics we saw in London," he fumed.

"The DUP opposed the Government proposal to hike up fees to a possible £9,000 per annum, but those who rioted and used violence against the police have squandered the sympathy of the public over the issue of fees and have brought shame on themselves and the colleges or universities from which they come," said the DUP MLA.

Two men, aged 19 and 23, have been charged with public order offences and are due to appear in Belfast Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

In total, six men and two women were arrested for public order offences. Six people have been released pending reports.

The Stormont Employment and Learning Minister, Danny Kennedy has condemned the violence in London yesterday and the disruption caused in Belfast city centre.

He said: "Whatever views individuals might have about the tuition fees vote in the House of Commons, it was the outworking of parliamentary democracy.

"Supporters and opponents of the measures had their say in Parliament in a democratic debate.

"Many members of the public also expressed their views through legal, peaceful protest. This powerfully contrasts with the actions of those involved in the shameful violence on the streets of London - the attack on the car carrying Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, violent assaults on police officers and attacks on public buildings.

"Those involved in such actions have assaulted the democratic process," said the Ulster Unionist Minister.

"Thankfully in Belfast we were spared the scenes of violence seen in our nation's capital.

"However, the illegal protest which brought widespread disruption to the general public was entirely unacceptable.

"The disruption inflicted on the public and business in Belfast can have no place in Northern Ireland's democratic debate on the way forward on tuition fees," he said, noting that he has requested a meeting with the Justice Minister and the Chief Constable to discuss the handling of future illegal protests.

See: Traffic Blocked In Fees Protests

See: Trouble Erupts At Student Fees Protest

See: More Choose NI Study As Fees Rise Feared

(BMcC)