Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Belfast

Pictures: Republican fires burn to mark the anniversary of internment without trial

This was the second night in a row that youths reportedly clashed with police in Belfast.

Belfast disorder Bonfire on the Falls Road in Belfast Niall Carson / PA Images Niall Carson / PA Images / PA Images

BONFIRES WERE LIT in the North last night as republicans began to mark the anniversary of the introduction of internment during the Troubles, leading to a second night of clashes between young people and police.

On Monday night, police in Belfast were attacked and cars were torched by youths after the removal of wood from a nationalist bonfire site.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Superintendent Andrea McMullan said officers were dealing with “localised disorder in the Friendly Street area of the Markets”, which she said was caused by a small group of youths.

Belfast disorder A firework is launched as the Falls Road bonfire is lit. Niall Carson / PA Images Niall Carson / PA Images / PA Images

She said that children as young as 12 were attacking police and parked cars in the area. “Police will not tolerate such wanton violence,” she said yesterday.

Despite this, however, further fires were lit last night as youths clashed with police again.

Belfast disorder A car on fire in the North Queen Street area of Belfast Niall Carson / PA Images Niall Carson / PA Images / PA Images

Sinn Féin has condemned the behaviour of those attacking police. Local councillor Deirdre Hargey described the disorder as “unacceptable”.

She said: “There is no defending this behaviour at all and it needs to stop now.”

The party’s north Belfast councillor, JJ Magee, told BBC News he understood that two cars were set alight in the New Lodge area and one petrol bomb was thrown at police last night.

Images shared online showed a car set alight on Belfast’s North Queen Street yesterday evening.

Internment was a policy introduced by the Northern Irish government in 1971 which saw Irish republicans arrested and imprisoned without trial. No loyalists were arrested during this time, despite the violent acts from both sides.

Read: Police attacked in Belfast after removal of wood from nationalist bonfire site

Read: ‘Brexit seriously risks driving a wedge between the North and Ireland’

Your Voice
Readers Comments
107
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.