The riots in Ardoyne last night were not just an orchestrated attempt to express intolerance at a display of Orange culture, nor an example of a community's complete inability to abide by normal standards of decency. The PSNI today said that republican rioters were clearly and deliberately trying to take lives. One of the police officers attending the scene was seriously injured and has had to undergo surgery.

Nine "devices" were thrown at the police, six of which exploded. Over 100 police officers were injured, but only 2 were treated in hospital. The trouble started after the Orange parade had passed and nationalist 'protestors' started attacking police. Petrol bombs and three blast bombs, as well as bottles and bricks, were thrown at the police during the disturbances.

This was all after the police had earlier allowed 15 protestors to stand on a bridge overlooking the morning parade with a protest banner. Are the scenes in Ardoyne at night the resultof trying to accommodate republican 'protestors'? I hope this is taken into account the next time republican groups from Ardoyne want to 'protest'.

"Beleaguered Nationalists of North Belfast"(explanation)
It gets better though. The poor protestors might have been hurt! The scumbags rioting at Ardoyne were hurling lethal weapons at the good men and women of the PSNI who dared to try and uphold basic order - and the lowlifes have the cheek to complain when the police break out the water cannon "too early". Gerry Adams said that by dousing the 'protestors' in water cannon they "took control away from the 'stewards'". What ballocks, if the stewards had any control there shouldn't be petrol bombs and blast bombs being thrown at police in the first place!

The police officers' lives are in serious danger, and we're supposed to feel sorry for those lowlife scum trying to kill them - just because the police break out a few plastic batton rounds (for the first time in three years)? Not only this, but these were the new baton rounds introduced because they carry a reduced risk of causing serious or fatal injuries. One would assume they're a lot less lethal than a blast bomb anyway.

"We've used water cannon and various other tactics, and we retain the right to use whatever tactics are necessary when we're faced with a lethal threat"
Superintendent Gary White, PSNI

Elsewhere...
52 petrol bombs were also thrown at police officers in Londonderry early on Wednesday morning, injuring 7 police officers.

Follow up:

On A Tangent Or Two
As a Northern Ireland supporter, I've enough experience of how these things work to understand that the scumbags attacking the police with bricks and bottles (captured nicely on on BBC Newsline video footage), wearing their Republic of Ireland tops, are conclusive proof that everyone who has ever worn a Republic top is a stark raving criminal. Of course that's not true - yet one wanker singing sectarian songs in a pub where there were Northern Ireland supporters, is evidence enough to condemn thousands of ordinary supporters as bigots. Alas, I digress...

The BBC give a nice obligatory background on the 12th July and the Orange Order for any non-NI based readers. "The Twelfth of July Orange Order parades mark the victory of the Protestant Prince William of Orange over the Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690." Of course it's a simple Protestant over Catholic victory. No mention that it was a victory for Parliamentary Monarchy over the Divine Right of Kings. King James wasn't fighting for "Human Rights for Catholics," he was fighting for an absolute right to rule the country how we wanted without answering to anyone. Deliberate ommission or just not important?

Update 22:55 13/07/05
Just saw on UTV news - the 9 blast bombs, 6 of which exploded, contained nails, bolts and 1p pieces. Once the blast bombs were thrown, the police felt they had no choice but to fire the new plastic baton rounds or "attenuating energy projectile".

The Royal Black Preceptory parade today passed off peacefully.