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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/dec/06/northern-ireland-loyalist-paramilitaries-violence
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland: paramilitaries playing role in violence, say police | Northern Ireland: paramilitaries playing role in violence, say police |
| (8 days later) | |
| Northern Ireland's chief constable has confirmed that loyalist paramilitaries are taking part in violent protests targeting the Alliance party for its decision to back a policy ending the daily flying of the union flag at Belfast city hall. | Northern Ireland's chief constable has confirmed that loyalist paramilitaries are taking part in violent protests targeting the Alliance party for its decision to back a policy ending the daily flying of the union flag at Belfast city hall. |
| Matt Baggott also vowed that the Police Service of Northern Ireland would be investigating whether there was a "conspiracy" involving loyalist terrorists after three nights of serious disorder in Belfast, Carrickfergus and Bangor, in which more than 20 of his officers have been injured. | Matt Baggott also vowed that the Police Service of Northern Ireland would be investigating whether there was a "conspiracy" involving loyalist terrorists after three nights of serious disorder in Belfast, Carrickfergus and Bangor, in which more than 20 of his officers have been injured. |
| Commenting on the violence, Baggott said: "Adherence to a flag can't be an excuse to compromise democracy. To use mob rule and violence as way of asserting people's will is compromising the rule of law. I call on people to take a step back – there is far too much at stake for the future and for the here and now." | Commenting on the violence, Baggott said: "Adherence to a flag can't be an excuse to compromise democracy. To use mob rule and violence as way of asserting people's will is compromising the rule of law. I call on people to take a step back – there is far too much at stake for the future and for the here and now." |
| The Guardian has learned that members of the Ulster Volunteer Force from east Belfast and North Down have played a key role in many of the violent protests over the last three days. The UVF is not only officially on ceasefire but also is supposedly disbanding its militaristic structure. | The Guardian has learned that members of the Ulster Volunteer Force from east Belfast and North Down have played a key role in many of the violent protests over the last three days. The UVF is not only officially on ceasefire but also is supposedly disbanding its militaristic structure. |
| The leader of Northern Ireland's Alliance party, David Ford, described attacks and protests at his party's offices in east Belfast, Bangor and Carrickfergus over the last 72 hours as "an assault on democracy". | The leader of Northern Ireland's Alliance party, David Ford, described attacks and protests at his party's offices in east Belfast, Bangor and Carrickfergus over the last 72 hours as "an assault on democracy". |
| A loyalist mob set fire to an office in Carrickfergus and a paint bomb was thrown through the front window of the home of two councillors in Bangor. A 17-month-old toddler escaped injury. | A loyalist mob set fire to an office in Carrickfergus and a paint bomb was thrown through the front window of the home of two councillors in Bangor. A 17-month-old toddler escaped injury. |
| Directing his criticism at unionist politicians, Ford said if people were called on to the streets in a charged atmosphere, "violence is almost inevitable". | Directing his criticism at unionist politicians, Ford said if people were called on to the streets in a charged atmosphere, "violence is almost inevitable". |
| Ford, the Northern Ireland justice minister, said the PSNI was monitoring social media with a view to prosecuting anyone involved in organising violence. | Ford, the Northern Ireland justice minister, said the PSNI was monitoring social media with a view to prosecuting anyone involved in organising violence. |
| Four police officers were injured during loyalist violence linked to Belfast city council's decision to stop flying the union flag every day in the county Antrim town of Carrickfergus. | Four police officers were injured during loyalist violence linked to Belfast city council's decision to stop flying the union flag every day in the county Antrim town of Carrickfergus. |
| Ford said: "There are certainly people who have been posting messages on social media which amount to incitement to hatred, incitement to commit criminal offences such as arson and that is being monitored [by the police service]. It is up to them to consider the issue of what charges may or may not be appropriate and up to the Public Prosecution Service to then follow that through." | Ford said: "There are certainly people who have been posting messages on social media which amount to incitement to hatred, incitement to commit criminal offences such as arson and that is being monitored [by the police service]. It is up to them to consider the issue of what charges may or may not be appropriate and up to the Public Prosecution Service to then follow that through." |
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