Claims that provos have been drafted into Short Strand to cause violence
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Original post (by Irish Republican Watch, added Friday, 17 May 2002 10:45:05 UTC+1)
Claims that provos have been drafted into Short Strand to cause
violence
violence
LEADING Provisional IRA members from north Belfast and the Markets
have temporarily moved into Short Strand in east Belfast to help
orchestrate nightly violence, it has been claimed.
A leading loyalist has accused senior paramilitaries from the IRA's
third battalion - which includes north Belfast, the Markets and east
Belfast - of concentrating in the area to assist junior members.
Frankie Gallagher of the Ulster Political Research Group believes the
recent tension and outbreak of violence in the east of the city is a
part of a ''bigger picture'' and goes against an earlier agreement
between the two communities to maintain the peace.
''The short-term picture was to disconcert and disrupt the whole
community during the Queen's visit,'' he claimed.
''When trouble spread from north to east Belfast, it was seen as a
serious escalation - but that is not the case as Short Strand is also
under the command of the IRA third battalion.''
Mr Gallagher, an independent councillor for Castlereagh, said he
condemned all violence for political gain.
He said the UPRG had advised the UDA not to get drawn into mindless
violence because the loyalist com-
munity would inevitably end up hurt the longer it went on.
Mr Gallagher said: ''The UDA will listen to the
analysis of the UPRG but have informed them they will not stand by
while their community is attacked - but
believe in creating space for a resolution to difficulties.''
Mr Gallagher said that sectarian trouble had been bubbling in the east
of the city for several weeks.
In a bid to stem further attacks, loyalist community leaders, at the
request of nationalists - secured an agreement with the UDA, UVF and
Red Hand Commando on Friday evening that they would not launch the
''first strike''.
Mr Gallagher said: ''We got an agreement from all the loyalist
paramilitary groupings that they would not get involved in any
violence as long as their community was not open to attack.
''Then, on Friday night, a crowd of nationalists went into Thistle
Court and started smashing all round them.
"They seem to be totally insincere and this flies in the face of what
they agreed.''
Mr Gallagher claimed that about 300 nationalists
initiated the trouble in the early hours of Sunday.
''Out of all the people with Celtic shirts on, there was a clear
indication that many of the people didn't know each other and weren't
locals.
''It makes us believe the Celtic shirts were used as a form of
identification.
"These people were brought in from the Markets and north Belfast.''
The former UDP member said there was heightened tension every time
there was something happening with which Sinn Fein did not agree.
''The passing-out of the PSNI three weeks ago was a good example.
"A few weeks prior to that, there was a steady increase of trouble and
tension in north Belfast where trouble was switched between Tigers
Bay, Newington and the Whitewell.
''As soon as the PSNI passed out on the Saturday, there was a decrease
in violence.
''I believe that Irish republicanism have set up this system to ensure
the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
''They know how and when to get reactions, they know who to use as
scapegoats, they know the loyalist community better than they know
themselves because they have sat and studied it.
''They have left us with stones and bricks in our hands defending our
areas appearing on the media as if we are the attackers but this is a
totally false perception.
''If they tell a lie big enough and long enough, they think people
will believe it.
"But the constant blaming of the UDA for everything is farcical.
"Everybody now knows it is not always the UDA so at least the truth is
starting to come out a bit.''
On Wednesday night, a derelict house was set on fire during fresh
disturbances.
The trouble began when crowds of about 100 on each side began throwing
stones, fireworks and other missiles in the Madrid Street area shortly
after 10pm on Wednesday.
There were no reports of injuries.
The fire service fought the blaze at the derelict house while the
security forces kept the two sides apart.
Nationalists claim the house was set on fire by loyalists.
The trouble follows disturbances in the area on Tuesday when petrol
bombs were thrown and plastic bullets fired during clashes between
nationalists and police.
There were also disturbances at the weekend when several police
officers were injured during clashes
between rival groups.
have temporarily moved into Short Strand in east Belfast to help
orchestrate nightly violence, it has been claimed.
A leading loyalist has accused senior paramilitaries from the IRA's
third battalion - which includes north Belfast, the Markets and east
Belfast - of concentrating in the area to assist junior members.
Frankie Gallagher of the Ulster Political Research Group believes the
recent tension and outbreak of violence in the east of the city is a
part of a ''bigger picture'' and goes against an earlier agreement
between the two communities to maintain the peace.
''The short-term picture was to disconcert and disrupt the whole
community during the Queen's visit,'' he claimed.
''When trouble spread from north to east Belfast, it was seen as a
serious escalation - but that is not the case as Short Strand is also
under the command of the IRA third battalion.''
Mr Gallagher, an independent councillor for Castlereagh, said he
condemned all violence for political gain.
He said the UPRG had advised the UDA not to get drawn into mindless
violence because the loyalist com-
munity would inevitably end up hurt the longer it went on.
Mr Gallagher said: ''The UDA will listen to the
analysis of the UPRG but have informed them they will not stand by
while their community is attacked - but
believe in creating space for a resolution to difficulties.''
Mr Gallagher said that sectarian trouble had been bubbling in the east
of the city for several weeks.
In a bid to stem further attacks, loyalist community leaders, at the
request of nationalists - secured an agreement with the UDA, UVF and
Red Hand Commando on Friday evening that they would not launch the
''first strike''.
Mr Gallagher said: ''We got an agreement from all the loyalist
paramilitary groupings that they would not get involved in any
violence as long as their community was not open to attack.
''Then, on Friday night, a crowd of nationalists went into Thistle
Court and started smashing all round them.
"They seem to be totally insincere and this flies in the face of what
they agreed.''
Mr Gallagher claimed that about 300 nationalists
initiated the trouble in the early hours of Sunday.
''Out of all the people with Celtic shirts on, there was a clear
indication that many of the people didn't know each other and weren't
locals.
''It makes us believe the Celtic shirts were used as a form of
identification.
"These people were brought in from the Markets and north Belfast.''
The former UDP member said there was heightened tension every time
there was something happening with which Sinn Fein did not agree.
''The passing-out of the PSNI three weeks ago was a good example.
"A few weeks prior to that, there was a steady increase of trouble and
tension in north Belfast where trouble was switched between Tigers
Bay, Newington and the Whitewell.
''As soon as the PSNI passed out on the Saturday, there was a decrease
in violence.
''I believe that Irish republicanism have set up this system to ensure
the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
''They know how and when to get reactions, they know who to use as
scapegoats, they know the loyalist community better than they know
themselves because they have sat and studied it.
''They have left us with stones and bricks in our hands defending our
areas appearing on the media as if we are the attackers but this is a
totally false perception.
''If they tell a lie big enough and long enough, they think people
will believe it.
"But the constant blaming of the UDA for everything is farcical.
"Everybody now knows it is not always the UDA so at least the truth is
starting to come out a bit.''
On Wednesday night, a derelict house was set on fire during fresh
disturbances.
The trouble began when crowds of about 100 on each side began throwing
stones, fireworks and other missiles in the Madrid Street area shortly
after 10pm on Wednesday.
There were no reports of injuries.
The fire service fought the blaze at the derelict house while the
security forces kept the two sides apart.
Nationalists claim the house was set on fire by loyalists.
The trouble follows disturbances in the area on Tuesday when petrol
bombs were thrown and plastic bullets fired during clashes between
nationalists and police.
There were also disturbances at the weekend when several police
officers were injured during clashes
between rival groups.
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