Police to blame for loyalist violence, says Orange Order

THE Orange Order yesterday blamed the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for fomenting last weekend’s widespread violence as Justice Minister Michael McDowell made his strongest condemnation of loyalist paramilitaries.

Orange Order Grand Master Robert Salter yesterday refused to accept that any members of his organisation orchestrated, or were involved in, the violence. Instead he blamed the PSNI for adopting an aggressive and arrogant approach. He also claimed that Orangemen captured on video participating in violent clashes were merely protecting themselves from the police.

He further alleged that the police had shown a lack of respect to marchers on the Whiterock parade.