Top cop: ‘Rioters lack self-respect’

‘Mindless anarchy’ of rioters blasted by Northern Ireland’s Chief Constable.

The most senior police officer in Northern Ireland has blasted the “mindless anarchy” of rioters after dozens of his men were injured during Loyalist riots in Belfast city centre.

Protesters ran amok through the streets in a night of chaotic violence, attacking police with missiles, including scaffolding poles and paving stones ripped up from a central shopping district. Chief Constable Matt Baggott has issued a challenge to politicians and community leaders to act like “statesmen” in the wake of the disorder and unequivocally condemn those responsible.

He added: “I know that 99%, if not more, of the population will stand with me in utterly condemning those who have scarred the reputation of our beautiful city.

“Those people had no intention of peaceful protest, they lack self respect and they lack dignity.”

The violence erupted in Royal Avenue, a busy street close to City Hall, as more than a thousand Loyalist demonstrators gathered to protest at a Republican rally to mark the introduction of internment without trial in Northern Ireland in 1971.

Four officers required hospital treatment and 56 were injured. Police who deployed water cannon and 26 plastic baton rounds in a bid to quell the unrest have arrested seven people so far, but have warned that more arrests will follow.

The Chief Constable, who warned that the “prisons would be bulging” once the police had identified and arrested those responsible, added: “The only voices we should hear now are those unequivocally condemning the violence and supporting fully the actions of the police and the rule of law. I don’t want to hear any excuses for the disgraceful scenes that took place because quite frankly there aren’t any.”

He praised officers tackling the unrest, insisting that they had put their lives on the line to protect the rule of law.

And he added: “I want to commend my colleagues for their immense courage.

“I have no doubt whatsoever they prevented that anarchy from spreading and without that courage, many lives may well have been lost.”

Reports have emerged that two members of the public were injured in the clashes, while a number of parked vehicles were set on fire in the nearby North Street area. Shops were also damaged as well as at least one bar.

The parade and the protesters confronted each other about 100 metres apart in north Belfast. What police have described as “serious disorder” took place in the Carrickhill, Peter’s Hill and Millfield areas close to the city centre. The parade then passed into west Belfast after protesters were pushed back towards the Shankill area.

Police put in place a major operation ahead of the parade, involving hundreds of officers and dozens of vehicles. The Parades Commission had given permission for six Loyalist protests against the parade. Numbers were restricted at four of them.

The trouble broke out while the city is hosting thousands of international visitors attending the World Police & Fire Games.

The event, which drew to a close last night, reportedly brought a £5 million economic windfall to the city.

But it’s believed that sum could be dwarfed by the costs of Friday night’s violence.

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers described the violence and attacks on police as “shameful”.

She said it was a “hugely regrettable step backwards” after Northern Ireland’s success hosting the G8 summit.