Belfast police pelted after blocking parade

“I would not condemn residents for defending themselves”.

“Despite our best efforts none of the people responsible for today’s parade have come forward to engage with police to clarify their intentions (on timings)”.

The police said the parade should have vacated Divis Street/Millfield junction by 1.30pm local time, but it did not start until about 2pm.

The parade turned back without incident after it was halted, but an hour later disturbances broke out in the area where it had been stopped.

The PSNI say they are upholding the Parade’s Commission ruling and have stopped marchers on the corner of the Oldpark Road and Rosapenna Street.

“Water cannon was used in the area to manage the disorder and a number of officers sustained minor injuries”.

“I think the community at large were, in some respects, held to ransom”.

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said the Parades Commission breach was “totally unacceptable”.

“She told police to f*** off and threw the brick at officers”, the constable claimed.

She continued: “Dialogue is critical in dealing with the issue of parades and protests and without engagement the planning for the operation was made more challenging for the police”. She has to reside outside Belfast, stay away from all parades and protests, observe a curfew and refrain from consuming alcohol.

Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness condemned the parade organisers.

The Anti-Internment League defied the Parades Commission and began walking an hour after they were supposed to finish.

Four people were arrested in connection with the disorder on Sunday.

The men, aged 24 and 21, have also been charged with possessing petrol bombs in suspicious circumstances.

The woman is due to appear in Belfast Magistrates’ Court later while the man is due in the same court on September 4th.

In previous years the parade has proceeded through the city. In 2013, about 60 police officers were injured in clashes with protesters at a similar event.

Organisers had been granted permission to go ahead – but under some conditions.