Junior Orangemen Riot in Bangor

[An Fear Dubh]

Newton Emerson is an interesting journalist he seems to attack everyone equally.

This week he attacked the Junior Orangemen and their hangers-on who rioted in Bangor and angered upper middle class protestants in the sea-side town. The rioting and loutish behaviour continued on the train out of Bangor. Resulting in the police stopping the train and ejecting a number of people some who were no the culprits were caught up in this blanket approach by police.

Emerson noted that the Orange Order bluntly denied any responsibility and refused to condemn the behaviour of those they washed their hands of. Belfast County grand wizard Harry Whiteside even told the fed-up residents of Bangor to be grateful for the extra visitors!

Now this attitude makes one wonder about the wizdom of the DUP in cashing in a bagful of political bargining chips, for a one off march down Garvaghy Road. How can the DUP trust the Orange Order to maintain discpline on the Garvaghy Road or even accept responsibility if they can and will not accept it in mostly protestant Bangor. So it might be another bagful of political chips collected by SF for no loss and plenty of gain. Before you cash in your hard earned chips you at least shoud ensure that you get full value for them and not trust them to some group that will not accept the responibility that such marches entail.

One of the counter complaints that the Orange Order leveled was - the police action led to two 12yr old girls from Carrickfergus were removed from the vandalised train and left without a means to get home. It was only the kindness of the vandalising Orangemen that clubbed together that enabled the two girls to get a taxi home. Yes a whole £15 fare, oh the inhumanity!!

[Harry]

'Up to 100' involved in trouble

There was trouble after a parade in Bangor
Up to 100 people were involved in trouble after a loyalist parade in Bangor, County Down, police have said.
Trouble in the town flared on Tuesday after a Junior Orange Order march.

Police said two officers sustained minor injuries after missiles, including bottles, were thrown during the disturbances.

The Orange Order's Thomas Haire said he had not seen any of the reported violence and that it had been "a good day".

He said the Order would not be taking responsibility.

Police said they responded to reports of disturbances in the Main Street and Castle Park areas.

One person has been charged with riotous assembly and three other people who were arrested have been released pending further inquiries.

Meanwhile, police have rejected claims they were heavy-handed in dealing with later trouble on a train from Bangor to Belfast.

Fights broke out between passengers on the train on Tuesday evening.


Disturbances later broke out on the train

Officers in riot gear escorted all the passengers off at Belfast Central Station and an onward service to Carrickfergus was cancelled.

Chief Inspector Robert Murdy said the police had to respond in the way that they did.

"Police were asked to attend Central Station by Translink due to a high degree of violence breaking out on the train from Bangor," CI Murdy said.

"Our officers had to respond to ensure the safety of passengers on the train and indeed to protect members of the public.

"We understand that this could have been very frightening for other passengers but I certainly consider that our actions were proportionate given the level of violence that was being seen on the train at that stage."

Petrol bomb

However, a passenger on the train, Selena Henderson accused the police of being "completely out of order".

"The PSNI came onto the train and said 'everyone off the train' and everyone just looked at the police as if to say 'what's happening here'.

"But they just said everyone off the train now and started pushing and shoving all the young kids," Ms Henderson said.

She said passengers had to pay for a taxi for two 12-year-old girls who had no way home to Carrickfergus.

Translink's Ciaran Rogan said staff on the train had not been attacked, but had felt in danger.

"They must have felt some sort of threat if the police were called," he said.

He said some damage had been caused to the train, but that it had been repaired and went back into service on Wednesday.

Asked what lessons could be learnt form the incident, he added: "I think the people who should be learning lessons are those engaged in public disorder themselves.

"The lesson basically being that we won't tolerate any incidents where staff or passengers are threatened or where people's safety is compromised, and in cases like that we will call the police and ask them to deal with it."

Meanwhile, a petrol bomb and other missiles were thrown at police in east Belfast.

They came under attack after they were called to the Mount Pottinger area following reports of youths throwing stones. One person was arrested.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6543969.stm

[Harry]

harry said:

'Up to 100' involved in trouble

There was trouble after a parade in Bangor
Up to 100 people were involved in trouble after a loyalist parade in Bangor, County Down, police have said.
Trouble in the town flared on Tuesday after a Junior Orange Order march.

Police said two officers sustained minor injuries after missiles, including bottles, were thrown during the disturbances.

The Orange Order's Thomas Haire said he had not seen any of the reported violence and that it had been "a good day".

He said the Order would not be taking responsibility.

Police said they responded to reports of disturbances in the Main Street and Castle Park areas.

One person has been charged with riotous assembly and three other people who were arrested have been released pending further inquiries.

Meanwhile, police have rejected claims they were heavy-handed in dealing with later trouble on a train from Bangor to Belfast.

Fights broke out between passengers on the train on Tuesday evening.


Disturbances later broke out on the train

Officers in riot gear escorted all the passengers off at Belfast Central Station and an onward service to Carrickfergus was cancelled.

Chief Inspector Robert Murdy said the police had to respond in the way that they did.

"Police were asked to attend Central Station by Translink due to a high degree of violence breaking out on the train from Bangor," CI Murdy said.

"Our officers had to respond to ensure the safety of passengers on the train and indeed to protect members of the public.

"We understand that this could have been very frightening for other passengers but I certainly consider that our actions were proportionate given the level of violence that was being seen on the train at that stage."

Petrol bomb

However, a passenger on the train, Selena Henderson accused the police of being "completely out of order".

"The PSNI came onto the train and said 'everyone off the train' and everyone just looked at the police as if to say 'what's happening here'.

"But they just said everyone off the train now and started pushing and shoving all the young kids," Ms Henderson said.

She said passengers had to pay for a taxi for two 12-year-old girls who had no way home to Carrickfergus.

Translink's Ciaran Rogan said staff on the train had not been attacked, but had felt in danger.

"They must have felt some sort of threat if the police were called," he said.

He said some damage had been caused to the train, but that it had been repaired and went back into service on Wednesday.

Asked what lessons could be learnt form the incident, he added: "I think the people who should be learning lessons are those engaged in public disorder themselves.

"The lesson basically being that we won't tolerate any incidents where staff or passengers are threatened or where people's safety is compromised, and in cases like that we will call the police and ask them to deal with it."

Meanwhile, a petrol bomb and other missiles were thrown at police in east Belfast.

They came under attack after they were called to the Mount Pottinger area following reports of youths throwing stones. One person was arrested.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6543969.stm

Any chance of a link AFD for the information you posted??? Did the OO make any accusations about paying the train fare etc or is this your way of reading between the lines???

[An Fear Dubh]

Sorry you need subscription to view the article in the Irish News but you might get it on Newshound, so a link was pointless. Are you familiar with the semi-freelance journalist Newton Emerson? He has a blog and does a weekly view in the Irish News he used to run a site/paper 'Portadown Times' ?? These were his views and not mine, I thought I made that clear at the start.
No need to get snotty with me mate, I am just the middle-man.

[Wasp]

Tut tut Harry. You should know he's just the middle man for goodness sake. lol

[Harry]

anfeardubh said:

Sorry you need subscription to view the article in the Irish News but you might get it on Newshound, so a link was pointless. Are you familiar with the semi-freelance journalist Newton Emerson? He has a blog and does a weekly view in the Irish News he used to run a site/paper 'Portadown Times' ?? These were his views and not mine, I thought I made that clear at the start.
No need to get snotty with me mate, I am just the middle-man.

Not getting snotty mate simply asked the question if you could post a link and whether the OO actually levelled back such an accusation at the police regarding paying the train fare?? You have explained that you can't post a link as you have to pay to view it. fair enough. It just seemed like your last paragraph and the snipe at the OO was your own input. If not then apologies.

[An Fear Dubh]

That is okay, sorry if I was snappy. It was not my own imput, the snipe was his exactly. If you were aware of the protestant journalist Newton Emerson this is his style. To be fair to him his sharp wit and comments are across the political spectrum. I would recommend his stuff, not that I always like it but must acknowledge his observations.

[Harry]

anfeardubh said:

That is okay, sorry if I was snappy. It was not my own imput, the snipe was his exactly. If you were aware of the protestant journalist Newton Emerson this is his style. To be fair to him his sharp wit and comments are across the political spectrum. I would recommend his stuff, not that I always like it but must acknowledge his observations.

Never came across him or not that i'm aware of. Where's good to find his work??

[An Fear Dubh]

He is no longer easily available to access, since he went 'professional'.

He started out a site/paper called the Portadown Times, before 'blogs' got fashionable. It was satirical, a lot of blog sites have links to his old page but they do not work anymore. The Morton Group bought the title from him and the new paper is nothing like his style. He writes the occassional big piece like the one I posted a link to from Newzhound in the Irish News. But he usually does a weekly half page of snippets in the Irish news, and these seem editorial picked to reflect a mix bag of satire across the political spectrum. Some of the stuff is hard to swallow depending on your political view, but there is merit in a lot of what he says even the stuff I do not like. I think he has a new blog somewhere but I am not up to date with where it is.

[Harry]

Thanks for the link. I personally don't like his style altough its the first peice i've read i think Its great to sit on the fence and have a pop at every side, no danger of showing your true colours!!

[An Fear Dubh]

Harry, that is exactly the opinion I have of him too!!
It seems more and more I see positive aspects to his satirical comments. But boy can he balance on that fence! Maybe I am getting old and mellowing out?
You can be certain that when I quote him, I will be selective in which bits I quote from.

[Harry]

anfeardubh said:

Harry, that is exactly the opinion I have of him too!!
It seems more and more I see positive aspects to his satirical comments. But boy can he balance on that fence! Maybe I am getting old and mellowing out?
You can be certain that when I quote him, I will be selective in which bits I quote from.

Us something in common, no bloody chance ;D How easy is it to point out everyones faults?? I like equal handed journalism and enjoy reading it but he just seems like he likes to throw in the insults and label everyone this that and the other.

[earl]

harry said:

anfeardubh said:

That is okay, sorry if I was snappy. It was not my own imput, the snipe was his exactly. If you were aware of the protestant journalist Newton Emerson this is his style. To be fair to him his sharp wit and comments are across the political spectrum. I would recommend his stuff, not that I always like it but must acknowledge his observations.

Never came across him or not that i'm aware of. Where's good to find his work??

Here's a link Harry to the Portadown news:
www.portadownnews.com/archive.htm

He's a Unionist from what I gather, but he's very unbiased in his media coverage. Everyone is fair game! Writes great satire. He'd be popular in the ROI with anyone with an internet connection and an interest in NI.

[An Fear Dubh]

Good man Earl, could not find any of his old stuff begining to think I had made it up!!

I am not sure if I would label him Unionist maybe more unionist (alliance), as he gives everyone a fair thrashing. I know the link says Portadown News but I had an old link that was not working that said Portadown Times, was there both or am I senile again?

[An Fear Dubh]

Harry sorry for warping this topic, I seem to have a habit of this!!