Very Tense In Belfast

It is just the standard build up to July 12th. Same happened last year but there was more going on in the media.

Actually... it happens every year.

My name is URL wrote: »

They really do need to get working on that device which can separate NI from the rest of the island and set it adrift towards the Arctic.

I use to wish that one day , the whole of NI would just drift off to up to Antartica and take it's ugly, evil troubles with it to .

Its terrible really, one lad is critically ill in hospital after being hit in the head with a block, poor lad.

Unionist politicians need to reign the UVF in.

For those who don't know the area in question is called Short Strand and is a small catholic one of approx 3000 people in the center of loyalist east Belfast, so they are pretty isolated. Probably most famous for the Battle of Saint Matthews.

Last night hundreds of masked loyalists attacked the area with petrol bombs, pipe bombs etc. Attacked pensioners homes with petrol bombs. Community rallied around and put the fires out and defended themselves. Shots were fired too, miracle no one was killed (although the guy in hospital is in a bad way, they got him when he was protecting the church from the loyalist mob afaik). Two loyalists were shot in the legs too I believe. Initially I thought it was simply the annual trouble, but its much much worse then that. Loyalists shot at people and they , burned a police landrover too. Worst violence in a long long time.

Reports are(the BBC, UTV and the PSNI themselves say) that the UVF orchestrated this and bussed in loyalists from across the city. Motivated not only by simple sectarianism but by the threat of HET investigations and the supergrass trial.

Of course tonight I dare say many 'from both sides' have descended on the area anticipating trouble. I had hoped the weather would send a load home.

Anyway, hopefully the situation is resolved and no one gets hurt. Danger is that this can escalate, reprisals and all that crap.

Despite the political progress sectarianism is still a huge problem, and all the indications are that this will be a long summer, I can only imagine what the 12th is gonna be like now, Ardoyne in particular. Depressing.

There's been similar instances of this during the 'peace' era so hopefully it will pass.

As depressing as it sounds, there maybe something in the Northern Irish / West of Scotland psyche that enjoys this sectarian rubbish.

JONJO THE MISER wrote: »

Just seen this on politics.ie:
Apparently a number of masked men including one armed with a gun have walked into Lurgan train station. The station is now closed.

Almost as bad as twitter that place, ignore until you get something more solid.

JONJO THE MISER wrote: »

I noticed it was a bit sensationlist alright.

All it takes is one gobsh!te to get something wrong over on twitter, gets retweeted and spread around, appears on a site and suddenly its fact.


http://www.facebook.com/irishrepublicanforum


The reports that get posted up there would be the most accurate as its collected from people in the actual area. The reports they had yesterday turned out pretty correct.

As long as it just stays very tense and doesn't get worse.