THERE was a large police presence in Belfast city centre yesterday as a British army veterans rally and republican counter protest passed off peacefully.
Restrictions had been placed on the protest parade organised by anti-agreement republican party Saoradh.
Up to 200 people, some carrying placards, took part in the march which began at Castle Street before making its way to the junction of Donegall Place and Donegall Square North in front of the city hall.
Among those who attended was prominent Lurgan republican Colin Duffy.
After being stopped at police lines, the protesters held a short rally and sang several republican songs before dispersing.
However, as they made their way back to Castle Street the PSNI used loud speakers to warn that the procession was in breach of the Parades Commission determination.
Just yards away, around 500 loyalists gathered outside the city hall in support of a rally organised by Justice for the Northern Ireland Veterans.
Former DUP assembly member for north Belfast Nelson McCausland attended the event, while UUP assembly member Doug Beattie addressed those gathered.
Shankill Butcher Eddie McElwaine was also among the crowd.
The rally was organised in opposition to the prosecution of former British soldiers in Troubles-related cases.
Similar gatherings took place in Glasgow and London yesterday, with crowds in London addressed by former soldier Dennis Hutchings (75), who is facing a charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm in relation to a fatal shooting in 1974.
Former British soldier Doug Beattie told those attending the rally in Belfast: “We all deserve justice.
"What we are seeing now is a Frankenstein version of justice which is all focused one way and no other way,” he said.
"We don't want preferential treatment.
“If you break the law you should face the law be you a soldier, policeman, member of the public or politician. But what we are seeing here is an imbalance."
Referring to the republican protest, Mr Beattie said: "They have a right to walk, they have a right to protest, because we fought for their right to protest. We fought for their freedom of speech."
In January, Director of Public Prosecutions Barra McGrory said he was mystified by suggestions he did not act impartially when bringing charges against a small number of ex-soldiers, saying the allegations insulted him and his office.
Yesterday's rally took place days after a coroner ruled that the British army killing of 15-year-old Manus Deery in Derry in May 1972 was unjustified.
The teenager was standing outside a chip shop in the Bogside with friends when he was hit in the head by fragments from a ricochet bullet.
Relatives of 10 people killed by the British army in Ballymurphy in west Belfast in August 1971 were at the protest yesterday.
John Teggart’s father Daniel was shot dead when members of the Parachute Regiment opened fire on civilians.
He claimed he and other campaigners were verbally abused by some of those attending the military rally and accused those taking part of “walking on the victim’s graves”.
“Why should veterans have immunity because they were wearing a uniform?” he said.
“The families are gutted these things are allowed to happen 46 years later.”
Mr Teggart added that his campaign group wants to speak to the British army veterans.
The family of five-year-old Denise Ann Dickson, who was knocked down and killed by a British army vehicle in New Lodge in north Belfast in February 1971, also attended the protest.
During a short address at police lines Saoradh chairman Davy Jordan described the veterans' rally as “shameful” and claimed that immunity from prosecution was effectively granted to soldiers "a long, long time ago".
PSNI Superintendent Melanie Jones later said: “Police will now review all evidence gathered and pursue all relevant lines of inquiry relating to any offences or breaches of the Parades Commission determinations."
