Riot erupts in Ardoyne as marching season ends

Published on 13/07/2012 00:00

Violence broke out last night after loyalist and republican 
parades through North Belfast.

A burning car was driven at police lines, with water cannon and hundreds of riot police deployed at the Ardoyne sectarian interface.

Bottles and other missiles were thrown, while republicans and loyalists exchanged taunts.

Trouble has erupted for years at the enclave after the Twelfth of July parade, the culmination of the Protestant Orange Order’s marching season.

About 15 Orangemen took part in a silent token parade past the contested shop-fronts, jeered by republicans and cheered by loyalists. There was no violence.

Rioting with republicans attacking police lines then erupted and continued for several hours.

The republican parade, which involved several hundred people, was delayed because of 
the violence but eventually 
proceeded.

Two water cannon vehicles sprayed troublemakers hemmed into a tight residential street close to the city centre of red-brick terrace houses.

A flaming silver BMW spread black smoke throughout the area.