Fresh trouble in Northern Ireland despite appeals for calm [View all]

Fresh trouble in Northern Ireland despite appeals for calm
By RTÉ
Updated / Monday, 5 Apr 2021 23:45

Violence has broken out on the streets of Northern Ireland again, despite appeals for calm. A car was set alight in Sperrin Park in the Waterside area of Derry, while there were also reports of violent incidents in Carrickfergus, near Belfast. Both locations have been the scene of violence and unrest among the loyalist communities in recent days.

... Throughout this afternoon, masked loyalist bands marched through the streets in towns across Northern Ireland, including Portadown, Ballymena and Markethill. The PSNI is investigating those marches, which appear not to have been notified to the Parades Commission. It follows a turbulent week of events, as loyalist tensions simmered over into violence.

... Tonight, a masked loyalist band marched through the streets of Portadown, playing drums and flutes and waving flags.

Sinn Féin MLA John O'Dowd condemned the march, which he said was intended to intimidate the local community. He said: "Tonight's so-called band parade in Portadown was led by masked men through the streets, reminiscent of the scenes recently in Pitt Park in East Belfast when a loyalist mob went on a rampage to intimidate families out of their homes.

Much more here
https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0405/1207947-loyalist-violence-police/