Violence Breaks Out After Protestant March in N. Ireland
Police came under gunfire in mounting violence in Northern Ireland on Sunday as a leader of the IRA’s political wing urged Roman Catholics to “take to the streets” to protest a parade by the Protestant Orange Order.
Hours after the parade was allowed to march down a Catholic area of Portadown against the wishes of local residents, senior Sinn Fein leader Martin McGuinness told a rally in Londonderry that Catholics should “stand up for their rights.” McGuinness’ party, the political arm of the Irish Republican Army, seeks the end of British rule of Northern Ireland.
About 1,000 Orangemen marched on Garvaghy Road in Portadown over the objections of Catholic Irish nationalists living along the parade route. The Orangemen were given police and army protection.
Violence hit Portadown when Catholic youths clashed with security forces at the end of the march.
Police in riot gear fired plastic bullets when youths attacked security forces’ vehicles as they pulled out after the march. Police reported 27 people injured--11 of them police officers--on Garvaghy Road.
Gunmen opened fire on police vehicles in Coalisland, northwest of Portadown, and in Belfast after the parade. One officer was hurt.
Several cars were hijacked and set on fire by youths as part of protests in Belfast and Londonderry, police said.
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