Northern Ireland

Loyalist protest which drew 3,000 marchers being investigated by police

Masked men were among those who took part in an anti-Protocol march down the Shankill Road in west Belfast on Thursday night
Masked men were among those who took part in an anti-Protocol march down the Shankill Road in west Belfast on Thursday night Masked men were among those who took part in an anti-Protocol march down the Shankill Road in west Belfast on Thursday night

A loyalist protest in west Belfast drew crowds of more than 3,000 people police have said as they continue to investigate the illegal gathering.

Loyalists gathered in Woodvale on Thursday evening to stage a demonstration in opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Men in balaclavas were among those who took part in a march along the Shankill Road.

Crowds cheered as a Sinn Féin united Ireland banner, which had been flown from Divis Flats around the centenary of Northern Ireland early last month, was set alight by a wheelchair-bound former loyalist prisoner.

The banner was removed from Divis Flats following complaints to the Housing Executive. It is understood it was removed by the same people who put it up.

However, protesters were told on Thursday that the banner had been removed by "vigilant loyalists".

Questions have been asked as to how the banner got into protesters' hands.

Loyalists have held anti-Protocol protests, some of them violent, since Easter.

The Shankill parade was significantly larger than previous marches, including one in Portadown, Co Armagh, last Saturday.

Police warned protesters that Thursday night's march was illegal. Officers filmed the parade and will examine the footage for suspected breaches of coronavirus and parading legislation

Chief Inspector Darren Fox said the parade was not notified to the Parades Commission.

"Organisers of parades/processions are required to give formal notification of their intentions which was regrettably not provided or forthcoming," he said.

"The numbers were also in excess of that permitted under the Public Health Regulations.

"An evidence-gathering operation was in place. Police issued a number of warnings and we will now review all the footage gathered and consider any suspected breaches of the Public Processions (NI) Act 1998 and offences in respect of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations NI 2021."

West Belfast MP Paul Maskey said he was disturbed that masked men had led the parade.

"We have witnessed the recent violence on the streets where property was destroyed, police officers injured and people left terrified in their homes. Those scenes cannot be repeated," the Sinn Féin politician said.

"The PSNI now need to address this illegal parade and the actions associated with it.

"Those within positions of leadership in political unionism also need to come out and condemn the scenes witnessed tonight, including masked men standing outside a DUP constituency office, and others holdings sinister banners targeting US President Joe Biden.

"Hooded men on our streets or calls to provoke instability have no place in our society and those in positions of leadership need to make that clear."

A further loyalist rally will be held in Newtownards next Friday.

Anti-Protocol protesters will parade from four estates in the town and congregate in Newtownards Square at 8pm.