12 July Riot Findings Revealed

The PSNI has met with the leaders of the DUP and UUP, Peter Robinson and Mike Nesbitt, to discuss unionist concerns over the policing of the return Orange parade along the Lower Newtownards Road on 12 July.

Trouble flared after the Orange Order called loyalists onto the streets in protest at the Parades Commission's decision to only let loyalist bands march through the nationalist area of Ardoyne once.

The Chief Constable and Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton met with the two leaders yesterday.

ACC Hamilton said: "The PSNI carried out a review of the policing operation. The review will provide a helpful insight that will inform future planning of similar events including this forthcoming weekend when there are a number of planned parades and protests. I would like to remind everyone that the PSNI will uphold the law, seek to protect the public and ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum.

"We recognise and will uphold people’s right to participate in parades and peaceful, lawful protest. However with that right comes responsibilities. We will police all events in an appropriate and proportionate manner. Anyone who engages in criminal activity or puts the community at risk will face the consequences of the criminal justice system. PSNI will fulfil its obligation to gather evidence and bring those responsible to justice.

The review of the operation will address the following findings, as stated by the PSNI:

- Tensions in East Belfast of 12 July were increased by the unknown and unpredictable nature of the Orange Order protest activity. This added to the challenges in policing the return parade particularly at the Lower Newtownards Road/Short Strand interface.

- The 'stalling' of the return parade for 53 minutes led to uncertainty that added to the challenges of the policing operation.

- The 'stalling' of the parade and sectarian chanting for over 15 minutes by some associated with the parade as it passed Short Strand also increased tension.

- A large number of people associated with the parade as participants and spectators received injuries as a result of missiles being thrown from the Short Strand. This included a large number of bottles, paint bombs and stones.

- The numbers involved in this attack from the Short Strand and the quantity of ‘missiles’ available indicated a high likelihood of preplanning on the part of those involved in violence.

- There were also a large number of missiles thrown from the Newtownards Road into the Short Strand area.

- The number of public order police deployed in the Short Strand was such that there was some delay in containing the attack on the parade.

- Without prejudice to any ongoing criminal investigation the review established a lack of police evidence gathering capability in the Short Strand.

- The attack on the parade resulted in injuries to those associated with the parade including a number of young children.

- Despite interventions from community representatives from both communities and deployment of the full range of public order tactics, public disorder continued for 90 minutes.

- In attempting to contain the violence that ensued, police officers came under sustained attack from both sides and 13 police officers were also injured.



The findings had been revealed in a joint statement by Peter Robinson and Mike Nesbitt yesterday, however their statement has come under fire for omitting criticisms of the loyalist community.

Sinn Féin Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile said: "Over a year on from loyalist bandsmen attacking and urinating on St. Matthew’s Church on the Newtownards Road, we have yet to hear a statement of condemnation from Peter Robinson. Two years on from an organised UVF attack on the Short Strand, we have yet to hear a statement of condemnation from Peter Robinson.

"Yet today we have a statement from Peter Robinson and his junior partner Mike Nesbitt attempting to blame the residents of a small, isolated Catholic community for attacking the Orange Parade on the Twelfth.

"I suppose we are to believe from this statement that is was residents of the Short Strand who were caught on camera attacking homes on Strand walk, nationalist bands deliberately stopping to play sectarian songs outside St Matthews Church, or that is was nationalists disguised as loyalist bandsmen that spent the evening attacking the PSNI on the Newtownards Road."

Mr Ó Donnghaile continued: "The reality is that there was no engagement prior to the parade between the Orange Order and the PSNI. The parade stopped for almost 45 minutes in Middlepath Street allowing tension to build up in the area, no explanation for this delay has been given by the Orange Order. The Parade was then stopped outside St. Matthew’s Church for the sole purpose of engaging in sectarian chanting and singing.

"Neither Peter Robinson nor Mike Nesbitt have set foot in the Short Strand, yet in order to play to the lowest common denominator within their community they seek to make political capital out of attacks on a small Catholic community. Through their selective accounts of the PSNI report on the day they have once again failed to show leadership."

(IT/CD)