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.

File photo Peter Morrison/AP/Press Association Images

Two charged over violence in Northern Ireland as 33 petrol bombs thrown

There was yet another night of disturbances over the decision to not fly the Union flag throughout the year.

Updated 13:10

LAST NIGHT SAW further protests in Northern Ireland, 39 days after the decision was made by councillors in Belfast City to only fly the Union flag on certain occasions.

The PSNI said that while most of the protests were peaceful, there was widespread road disruption.

The most serious disturbance last night was at O’Neill’s Road in Newtownabbey and at West Street in Carrickfergus. Water cannon and five plastic baton rounds were used by police after having petrol bombs, masonry and other missiles thrown at them.

Four police were injured, with one requiring hospital treatment.

Two males aged 15 and 30 have been charged with riotous assembly in relation to last night’s troubles and are due to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court today.

Union flag protests
1 / 5
  • Union flag protests

  • Union flag protests

  • Union flag protests

  • Union flag protests

  • Union flag protests


(All images: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland)

Read: More violence in Northern Ireland as Union flag protests continue >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
48 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Luca Costa
    Favourite Luca Costa
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 10:24 AM

    Can we stop calling these protests now. Throwing petrol bombs isn’t a firm of protest. It’s violent thuggery. The headline should read, Violence Continues in Belfast as 33 Petrol Bombs Thrown at Police. These thugs shouldn’t be engaged with or listened to until these nights of violence stop. Disgraceful.

    421
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Green Monkey
    Favourite The Green Monkey
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 10:49 AM

    And we had sympathy for these loyalists in the latest opinion poll…… Ha Ha

    124
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul MC
    Favourite Paul MC
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 11:01 AM

    Green monkey, we had sympathy for them ? I Must have missed that one.

    They should fill water canon with green dye and spray the rioters, 5 minutes notice for innocent bystanders to clear off, spray with dye that will not wash out for a week, every green person is refused service in public amenities, public buildings, can not purchase petrol (petrol bombs) or restricted goods. Can not work in public service until dye washes off.
    That should calm them down a bit.

    200
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Green Monkey
    Favourite The Green Monkey
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 11:07 AM

    Paul sorry its a copy and paste job….

    Some of those opposing the decision were planning to protest in Dublin on Saturday. The protest has been postponed but if today’s Paddy Power poll is anything to go by, they’d be preaching to the converted! Over half of those surveyed, 57pc, felt Belfast city council was wrong to restrict the flying of the Union flag at Belfast city hall!

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Sherman
    Favourite Dave Sherman
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 3:57 PM

    They would object to the dye being green..

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jamie Mccormack
    Favourite Jamie Mccormack
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 5:23 PM

    What seems to be lost on a lot of people is the fact that Sinn Fein actually voted to fly the union jack over city hall for 15 days a year! The unionists weren’t quite as magnanimous in the past, when they were the majority power-bloc. The way demographics are going in Belfast, Nationalists will be an outright majority very shortly, and they won’t have to support any Alliance-sponsored compromises. The political landscape has changed completely in Belfast and throughout the Six Counties, and the onus is on Unionist leaders to prepare their people to come to terms with this new reality. These protests are both bogus and dangerous and should be ended immediately. Somebody already mentioned the 3 young brothers who perished when their house in Ballymoney was petrol-bombed during loyalist protests ( those protests were about not being allowed to march through Nationalist areas with their lambeg drums and UVF banners).

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute gareth kavanagh
    Favourite gareth kavanagh
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 5:55 PM

    Terrorists

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conal Prendergast
    Favourite Conal Prendergast
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 10:28 AM

    “I refuse to allow my identity be taken away from me” , said the man in the balaclava.

    306
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aengus Mac Grianna
    Favourite Aengus Mac Grianna
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 1:49 PM

    To be fair, he hadn’t finished his make up before he was asked to go on camera.

    That’s simply inhumane.

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor Conneally
    Favourite Conor Conneally
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 10:28 AM

    They have held up the city and have cost the state they are so loyal to millions in policing costs.
    These bastards stopped an elderly man Visiting his sick wife and abused him.
    They are lower than Vermin

    http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vI_VhAEwB0k

    Loyalism =Fascism

    194
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute RobertOMaingain
    Favourite RobertOMaingain
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 11:09 AM

    They should get Alex Jones as a spokesman,not like their reputation can get any worse

    49
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kitty Prendergast
    Favourite Kitty Prendergast
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 10:27 AM

    Whichever side this is approached from, throwing petrol bombs at policemen with wives and children, is just plain despicable.

    171
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Green Monkey
    Favourite The Green Monkey
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 10:52 AM

    Kitty, even if they don’t have wives and children its still wrong ……..

    135
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Plath Diaries
    Favourite The Plath Diaries
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 10:31 AM

    Meanwhile, the majority of people in Belfast absolutely ignored these louts and had a Friday night in.

    153
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rob Zombie
    Favourite Rob Zombie
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 10:55 AM

    Why don’t we hear complete condemnation from Unionist leaders on the rioting / petrol bombing?

    118
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan Stewart
    Favourite Ryan Stewart
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 11:15 AM

    On BBC newsline last night, they were standing beside the protesters in Derry and giving interviews not condemnation

    80
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eoin J. Hegarty
    Favourite Eoin J. Hegarty
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 10:49 AM

    Protesting = peaceful
    throwing petrol bombs = Rioting

    109
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute RobertOMaingain
    Favourite RobertOMaingain
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 11:21 AM

    Protesting = peaceful = Shot dead
    Throwing petrol bombs = Rioting = Standing around looking busy for the camera

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eddie Barrett
    Favourite Eddie Barrett
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 11:19 AM

    Some members of my Family visited Stormont Parliament in October of 2012 , to present some of The Diaries of Austin Stack to The Parliament Library.
    We remarked actually that day, that the Union Jack was not flying over the building .
    What was explained by our MLA Host was that as part of The Good Friday Agreement , the flag only now flew on designated days of the year,18, I recall in total, days , in the year , which ironically includes St. Patricks Day.

    All of the Political Parties are party to that Agreement, which has now operated in unison, for nearly 15 years.
    It is identical to the Belfast Council democratic decision re flags , recently passed.

    Where is the argument ?
    These only several hundred thugs, need surely to be advised by their Loyalist/Unionist Leaders , how well the Agreement has worked in The Parliament Building .
    Unfortunately , leadership on The Loyalist side appears to be non-existent presently !
    What is their motive I ask ? Is it so as to undermine The Belfast Agreement altogether and return to the days of daily killings?

    85
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rob Zombie
    Favourite Rob Zombie
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 11:19 AM

    Exactly Ryan – They say they want the “protesters” to revert to a peaceful way of venting their anger. We all know if it was nationalists doing this, the same unionist leaders would be calling for the full scale return of British troops to the streets.

    71
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eric Wrafter
    Favourite Eric Wrafter
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 12:27 PM

    how about this: every day they ‘protest’ the number of official flag days is reduced by one. that way they only hurt their own cause the more they riot.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niamh Cannon
    Favourite Niamh Cannon
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 1:49 PM

    Forty days of protest/riots and a total of half a dozen plastic bullets fired. The same restraint would not be exercised in Ardoyne.

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute paul
    Favourite paul
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 2:06 PM

    Loyalist thugs treated by local BBC media with kid gloves. Someone should ask them what exactly they don’t have that their catholic neighbours do. We are not going back to a time when catholics were treated as second class citizens they better get used to it.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Oliver Walker
    Favourite Oliver Walker
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 2:21 PM

    I’d love to see how these guys would actually get on if they were landed in the middle of Syria or Afghanistan

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute RobertOMaingain
    Favourite RobertOMaingain
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 2:24 PM

    They would throw their british passports in the nearest bin and whip out their Irish ones for a start!!

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keith Wizzy
    Favourite Keith Wizzy
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 2:23 PM

    So sad to see that great city going back into the dark ages over a flag. These bigots are opening a big can of worms.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank2521
    Favourite Frank2521
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 10:33 AM

    So much for politicians – what did they expect would happen after years of some elements defending flags???
    Common sense is not very common up there. I feel for the police going to work. Can’t imagine what would happen if the police started throwing bombs at the rioters. Bring back the army and protect the police.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan Stewart
    Favourite Ryan Stewart
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 10:39 AM

    Yes bring back the army so both sides can get involved. Wise up.

    99
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SilentFugitive
    Favourite SilentFugitive
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 11:17 AM

    The PSNI is one of the best forces in the world when it comes to street control. What would an army add? They’d just be an incendiary.

    62
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Darby
    Favourite Paul Darby
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 1:43 PM

    Yeah, bring in the army because that worked so well the last time…..

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ruairí Merrigan
    Favourite Ruairí Merrigan
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 3:34 PM

    Well for some throwing petrol away!! Kids these days……

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Blanche
    Favourite Kevin Blanche
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 11:16 AM

    Whats the solution here? Cant obviously turn back on the flag thing. Police as well as local business can hardly cope with the rioting? Whats the answer? Maybe as a gesture of goodwill they agree to fly the flag an extra 15 days a year to help stem the thuggery. Maybe not. 2021 will be interesting when the census comes out and shows theres now more nationalists living there.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conal Prendergast
    Favourite Conal Prendergast
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 11:22 AM

    “As a gesture of good will”? Ok lads, you win, you can stop throwing petrol bombs at us now. That’d teach them alright.

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Blanche
    Favourite Kevin Blanche
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 11:32 AM

    True enough stupid comment but other than callin them thugs etc and stating the obvious what can be done to calm the fxxxers down.

    28
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan Stewart
    Favourite Ryan Stewart
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 11:53 AM

    A severe beating from the cops?

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ronan Sexton
    Favourite Ronan Sexton
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 12:32 PM

    Why not put up the price of petrol to 80 quid a liter up there?That’ll teach the scrotes.

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wild Rover
    Favourite Wild Rover
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 1:34 PM

    True their should be no backing down from these Vermen backing down now encourages similar displays if they don’t agree with any other decisions , this is only being used for the great uneducated section of the loyalist community to run riot in the streets . The solution is to catch and charge them and hand out severe sentences and this could probably deter a lot more from joining in .

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nathan Wheeler
    Favourite Nathan Wheeler
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 2:45 PM

    Its interesting how the North still does not quite understand that us the south really do not care what happens. If they want to go berserk over a flag then let them they are their own nation and it is not our problem. The same as the riots in London not our problem.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lord Loverocket
    Favourite Lord Loverocket
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 2:57 PM

    Nathan,
    I really think it’s interesting that you speak on behalf of the Irish nation when you say we don’t care about the north of Ireland. I suppose the downside to democracy is that every moron is entitled to their opinion, but don’t include me or my country in your selfish view.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rob Davies
    Favourite Rob Davies
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 3:16 PM

    Actually Nathan, for many of us down here, they are not their own nation, they are part of our nation, and we care a great deal about what happens up there.

    35
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute RobertOMaingain
    Favourite RobertOMaingain
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 3:44 PM

    Ghosts of the civil war linger on eh.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colm Ó Súiligh
    Favourite Colm Ó Súiligh
    Report
    Jan 13th 2013, 12:14 AM

    Speak for yourself, Nathan! Belfast is as Irish as Dublin or Galway.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richie Curry
    Favourite Richie Curry
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 12:26 PM

    It wont ever change…tbh there is not much to do if u got no money….there will always be young scangers to riot in Belfast….sad but true.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán Ó Tóibín
    Favourite Seán Ó Tóibín
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 8:33 PM

    Valid point made earlier about the flag over stormont. I believe its the same in the uk as it is here, the flag flies only over westminster when government sits as the tricolour only flies when Tithe na hOireachtas are in session.
    Where are the loyalist politicians coming out on the side of peace and reconcilliation when tricolours are burned 12th July?
    Loyalism/Unionism is in crisis. The demise of traditional jobs in linen flax and ship building has left their section of society with high unemployment and emigration. Traditionally members of the unionist population left school early to enter employment whilst nationalist remained in education and had larger families.
    The realisation that an ever increasing better educated population on the whole is closing the gap is now starting to dawn on the loyalist population.
    Fear is driving a lot of this

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pilib O Muiregan
    Favourite Pilib O Muiregan
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 9:05 PM

    What makes me laugh at the unionists even.more is that the majority of.those protesting more than likely didn’t get of their arses to vote when city council elections where on.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pilib Ó Pléimeann
    Favourite Pilib Ó Pléimeann
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 8:52 PM

    This really shows that unionism has a genuine fear of Irish culture and the catholic religion ( even though most people are not bothered with religion) If a united Ireland ever happens which I don’t think it will,a war or loyalist terrorist campaign on par with the ira campaign will no doubt happen. I’d love to see a united Ireland but not at the cost of even one more life. lets hope this doesn’t get worse than it already is.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dr.fury
    Favourite Dr.fury
    Report
    Jan 12th 2013, 10:56 PM

    Damn westbrits wasting all that precious fossil fuels,no wonder it costs so much down here

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute DeadBelly
    Favourite DeadBelly
    Report
    Jan 13th 2013, 6:31 AM

    I’m not surety fully understand the term “west Brit ” ….

    2
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.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds