Clashes in Dublin over loyalist march

RTE News ^ | 25 February 2006 16:54 (Irish Time) | RTE News

[Murtyo]

Around 300 protestors, who opposed the planned loyalist 'Love Ulster' march, have clashed with gardaí in Dublin city centre.

Rocks, bottles, planks of wood and firecrackers were thrown as gardaí, photographers and journalists came under attack. The Garda Riot Squad are still in attendance and a total of 37 people have been arrested. They are being held at Store Street and Pearse Street garda stations.

Fourteen people, including six gardaí, have been injured and are being treated in hospital.

Skirmishes were reported on O'Connell Bridge and Aston Quay and there was a stand-off for a time on Fleet Street. Loyalist marchers had gathered at the Garden of Rememberance for the march to commemorate the victims of republican violence. A large number of those marchers have now left.

Earlier, cars were attacked and had their windows smashed on Merrion Square and Nassau Street, with at least three vehicles set on fire.

It is understood shops and businesses along O'Connell Street closed their doors and gardaí said that some protestors attempted to break onto shops along the route. Gardaí are advising people to avoid Dublin city centre due to the violence.

During the riots, protestors used rubble that was left on O'Connell Street as a result of continuing road works. A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said it had removed certain objects such as bins before the march as a result of meetings with gardaí. The spokesperson the council had 'accomodated any requests gardaí made'.

[Murtyo]

Ahh, the very tolerant IRA and their supporters.

[Murtyo]

More than 200 Irish Republican Army supporters clashed with police on Dublin's central boulevard Saturday Feb. 25 2006, in a bid to block an unprecedented Protestant parade from passing through the capital. The protesters hurled bottles, bricks, fireworks and other objects at police who were trying to clear the hostile crowd from O'Connell Street. Two police officers and a journalist were injured. The protesters, mostly young men, chanted pro-IRA slogans as they waged running battles with riot police (AP Photo / John Cogill)

[ccmay]

I don't give a damn for the IRA and wish to see the status quo in Ulster preserved.

That said, what possible purpose could it serve to have Orangemen marching in Dublin? That's like having the Minutemen marching in Mexico City.

-ccm

[Murtyo]

[Murtyo]

There's an Orange tradition in the whole of Ireland, not just Ulster, Dublin has had this organization for a long time. I don't agree with their aims, but they got a right to demonstrate/peacefully assembly same as any other group.

[Publius6961]

We all tend to forget that there is uneasy peace in many other areas of the world. We tend to concentrate on the professional full time savages...

I wish we had more Irish Freepers able to provide additional details and images.

[vimto]

The orange order is strong in Scotland too but without trouble.

Now the Orangemen say they have a democratic right to march freely through the streets. But the Catholic community consider their insistence on walking though Catholic areas as akin to a dog marking it's territory.

Pays your money takes your choice.

but yes I would like a closer Irish viewpoint.

[BW2221]

The British history in Ireland is not one to be proud of. They dispossessed native Irish from their land and gave it to Protestants, many of whom they wanted to get out of England. Catholic Irish were treated as second class for centuries. In the 19th century, thousands of Irish starved to death as the British stood by and did nothing.

The Irish Republic has a tradition of freedom and tolerance. Protestants have the same rights as Catholics. In fact, a Jew was Lord Mayor of Dublin for a number of years.

The Irish battled for 800 years to achieve their freedom. The Catholic Church has remained out of any sectarian conflicts while the "Reverend" Ian Paisley can equal the the looniest mullah.

[Murtyo]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4750576.stm

www.unison.ie - need to register (Free), www.examiner.ie, www.iol.ie, www.rte.ie - will all have news

[Eric in the Ozarks]

This marching in nonsense. All it does is inflame.

[PAR35]

This marching in nonsense. All it does is inflame.

Yes free speech and the right to peacefully assemble must be suppressed for the good of the volk/proletariat.

[BW2221]

I agree they have a right to assemble, but this makes as much sense as a march in Poland by people who want to return to Communist rule.

The vast majority of those in the Irish Republic have no desire to return to the British Empire, where centuries of inbreeding by the royal family have produced mutants like "bonnie Prince Charles."

[Publius6961]

Thank you friend. That will do until my Irish lassie in Portstewart checks in.

[katana]

Read again. The rioters are Loyalist i.e. Orange Order (at least by association) militant Protestants. Some chutzpah to march and riot like this in the capitol of the Irish Republic. A pox on both their houses (IRA and Orangemen).

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I'd say this is more about pissing people off than free speech.
btw, my grandfather was as orange as any Scotch-Irishman. His name was McGrann.

[driftless]

"peaceful assembly"

What would you think if hundreds of northerners dressed up like Civil War union soldiers, with one made to look specifically like Sherman and riding a horse, went down to Atlanta and staged a parade with a mock burning of Atlanta? Do you think Southerners would be amused? Do you think they'd like their noses rubbed in it? I doubt it?

People have to use common sense. Orangemen marching around Republic territory banging lambeg drums are basically acting like juvenile agitators.

[PAR35]

Generally any reenactor willing to dress up as a union soldier is welcome in the south. It's a lot easier to recruit confederates. As for the Atlanta issues, there are probably more yankees than southerners in the Atlanta area these days. I wouldn't expect the southerners to line the route and throw rocks like the IRA goons do.

[driftless]

Yes, we have reenactors up here too. But if reenactors marched down Peachtree Street with the deliberate aim to rub Southerners noses in it, I still don't think they'd be treated kindly. And they shouldn't be.

[PAR35]

but this makes as much sense as a march in Poland by people who want to return to Communist rule.

I'd have to do some research, but I think they do that in Poland. I know they do in Russia and the former East Germany.

[BW2221]

My guess is that is would be received much less kindly in Poland than in Russia or East Germany.