Flash: RUC attack peaceful protest

national | miscellaneous | news report Saturday July 13, 2002 05:54 by Mc Mean

RUC/PSNI police attacked a peaceful protest in the nationalist Springfield Road area of West Belfast this evening as trouble broke out after an anti-Catholic parade by the Orange Order was forced through the area.

RUC attacked protestors with batons, including a pregnant woman,
in an unprovoked baton charge on the protest. Running battles
with residents and rioting was the predictable result.

In the ensuing clashes, which locals believe were deliberately
initiated by the RUC, scores of plastic bullets were fired at
nationalists and a handful of injuries were reported.

Sinn Fein councillor Tom Hartley described the initial RUC
response to the residents' protest on the Springfield Road as
very heavy-handed.

He said: "It was easy to see by the large number of police and
British military vehicles that they had made up their minds to
attack.

"When they put the line (of riot police) across the road it was
obvious that they were not prepared to let this protest go ahead
without taking action against it."

Local SDLP councillor Margaret Walsh described the indiscriminate
RUC assault: "There were some stones thrown but then the police
charged and began hitting everyone in front of them. A pregnant
woman who was right beside me was definitely one of the people
struck by a police officer."

Local community workers and political representatives were
credited with maintaining calm in the area despite an immense
provocation.

'SET-UP'

In nearby Ardoyne, nationalists also did not allow themselves to
be drawn into conflict by an aggressive RUC operation which
sought to blame protestors for violence ahead of today's parades.

Several hundred Nationalist protesters were present as the
Orangemen returned through the Catholic enclave, but remained
calm despite being hemmed in by lines of British Army and RUC
Land Rovers.

Sinn Fein North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly remonstrated with members
of the crowd, pointing out that RUC warnings of major violence
was an attempt to lure Nationalists into a trap.

"This is a set-up, they are trying to draw Republicans into
conflict using lies and propaganda.

"I'm more convinced than ever we need to make this a peaceful
protest," he added.

Clashes were also reported earlier today in Ballymena in a
similar confrontation.

Interface areas remain tense tonight but hopes are high that a
potentially difficult weekend across the North may pass
relatively peacefully.