Riots take place in Belfast

Riots happened for a third night in Belfast

By Nicole Hamer |

12:46 15 July 2013

There has been violence for three consecutive nights in Belfast after an Orange Order parade was prohibited from marching through the Ardoyne part of Belfast. The trouble broke out on Friday, 12th July, 2013.

Reportedly, during the third night of violence petrol bombs were fired at officers in the Woodvale vicinity. It is understood that the trouble lasted for approximately an hour.

This happened after there was tension earlier between loyalists, a number of Orangemen and officers near nationalist shops.

As many as 40 police officers have been hurt during the trouble this weekend, as reported by The Independent, as of time of writing.

A large number of officers from other areas of the UK were brought in in the wake of the trouble which started on Friday.

With regards to the violence, Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford said on Sunday, 14th July: “My message is clear; do not get involved in rioting on our streets, but if you choose to do so then be prepared to face the courts within hours.

“To young people in particular I would say this: ‘Do you want to leave home today with a clean record and by tonight have a criminal record, which could have consequences which will stay with you for the rest of your life?’.”