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12/09/2005
Hain brands violence 'totally unacceptable'
The Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Hain has said the riots that engulfed much of Belfast over the weekend are "totally unacceptable".
Thousands of police and army personnel were needed to deal with the trouble that flared in many loyalist areas of the city following the decision by the Parades Commission to re-route Saturday's Whiterock Parade in west Belfast.
Condemning the violence, Mr Hain said: “This rioting and attacks on the Police and Army are totally unacceptable. Attempted murder cannot in anyway be justified. There can be no ambiguity or excuse for breaking the law.
“All those with influence in the community, including the Orange Order and unionist politicians, must condemn this violence and give their full support to the PSNI. I will be meeting with the Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde, to receive a full report.”
Sir Hugh said he blamed the Orange Order for the trouble which saw 14 people arrested and 16 plastic baton rounds fired.
"I saw members of the Orange Order attacking my officers. I saw them standing next to men wearing masks, organising the violence.
"We did not call anyone onto the streets of Belfast yesterday, and those that did must bear substantial responsibility for the disorder that became inevitable with the catalyst of a disputed march.
"In addition to the Orange Order, who I hold substantially responsible for the organisation of the parade that went wrong, we are also clear that UDA and UVF factions were out there taking advantage of that situation."
The PSNI Chief Constable praised his officers for the way they handled the trouble.
"We are very lucky we do not have dead officers. They were shot at by paramilitary groups from the loyalist side. What I saw was a very professional response to one of the most dangerous riot situations in the history of policing in the United Kingdom.
"It is unique to Northern Ireland for officers to come under live fire in what was a public order situation."
The status of loyalist paramilitary ceasefires is under discussion today at a meeting between Mr Hain and Sir Hugh Orde.
(MB/SP)
Thousands of police and army personnel were needed to deal with the trouble that flared in many loyalist areas of the city following the decision by the Parades Commission to re-route Saturday's Whiterock Parade in west Belfast.
Condemning the violence, Mr Hain said: “This rioting and attacks on the Police and Army are totally unacceptable. Attempted murder cannot in anyway be justified. There can be no ambiguity or excuse for breaking the law.
“All those with influence in the community, including the Orange Order and unionist politicians, must condemn this violence and give their full support to the PSNI. I will be meeting with the Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde, to receive a full report.”
Sir Hugh said he blamed the Orange Order for the trouble which saw 14 people arrested and 16 plastic baton rounds fired.
"I saw members of the Orange Order attacking my officers. I saw them standing next to men wearing masks, organising the violence.
"We did not call anyone onto the streets of Belfast yesterday, and those that did must bear substantial responsibility for the disorder that became inevitable with the catalyst of a disputed march.
"In addition to the Orange Order, who I hold substantially responsible for the organisation of the parade that went wrong, we are also clear that UDA and UVF factions were out there taking advantage of that situation."
The PSNI Chief Constable praised his officers for the way they handled the trouble.
"We are very lucky we do not have dead officers. They were shot at by paramilitary groups from the loyalist side. What I saw was a very professional response to one of the most dangerous riot situations in the history of policing in the United Kingdom.
"It is unique to Northern Ireland for officers to come under live fire in what was a public order situation."
The status of loyalist paramilitary ceasefires is under discussion today at a meeting between Mr Hain and Sir Hugh Orde.
(MB/SP)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Staying cold. Any freezing fog that has formed overnight will slowly thin and disperse during the morning. Otherwise dry and bright much of the day with perhaps the odd coastal shower in the north and east. Maximum temperature 4 °C.Tonight:Dry at first with cloud thickening from the south through the evening. The odd shower, wintry over high ground, over northern counties, becoming more persistent rain over Down and Antrim. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
