NORTHERN IRELAND: PROTESTORS CLASH WITH POLICE UPDATE

(12 Aug 1995) English/Nat

Nationalist protestors in Northern Ireland have clashed with Police as militant protestants attempted to stage a traditional march.

The clash comes a day before a mass rally called in the city by Sinn Fein to protest the slow progress in all party talks in Northern Ireland.

This morning residents in the Catholic Ormeau Road area of the Belfast attempted to block the march by protestants.

When they refused to clear the route, riot officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary moved in.

There was a heavy Police presence on the Ormeau Road from early this morning. Nationalist residents have failed to stop two loyalist marches already this year. When they staged a sit down on the road, Police moved in forcefully.

Several protestors were injured. At least one received a heavy blow to the head.

Bricks and bottles were thrown at the Police as they moved the crowd of three hundred aside.

A small march by protestants was then shepherded through the area.

The so-called Apprentice Boys Parades are held on this date each year to commemorate an historical defeat of Catholic forces more than 300 years ago.

The main march is in Derry City.

This morning nationalists there also tried to stop the protestant parade.

Amongst the two hundred protestors, Martin McGuinness, the main Republican negotiator in talks with the British Government over Northern Ireland.

After declaring the gathering illegal, Police also moved in on these protestors, though with considerably less force.

The protestors were herded into a street running along side the ancient wall of Derry, along which the Protestant Apprentice Boys march.

There Martin McGuinness this morning protests in both Derry and Belfast were a defeat for the Police.

SOUNDBITE:

We have already seen on the Ormeau Road, violence being used by the RUC against the people of the Ormeau Road this morning. What we want the people of Derry to do now, the people who are standing here with us, is to walk with us quietly through the gate, because this has been a major defeat for the RUC and for the Orangemen.

SUPER CAPTION: Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein deputy leader

As the Protestant marches paraded past, the nationalists turned their backs, and raised clenched fists in a silent protest

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