SF: Police 'setting trap' for Ardoyne Catholics

A Sinn Fein Assembly member has said police chiefs were trying to set a trap for Ardoyne Catholics by warning that a riot was being planned during the annual Twelfth of July Orange marches.

Gerry Kelly, Sinn Fein Assembly member for North Belfast, said: ‘‘It was an outrageous piece of black propaganda, which has criminalised and demonised a whole area.

‘‘Ardoyne has now become synonymous with violence because of this but there was a peaceful protest today as we said there would be.’’

Belfast police commander Alan McQuillan had warned that republicans were planning to bus in hundreds of youths to the area to launch acid and petrol bombs later today.

Mr Kelly said: ‘‘He was trying to set a trap for the Ardoyne people and thankfully they have not fallen in to it.’’

The Sinn Fein MLA could not give assurances that there would be no street violence after the Orangemen returned through the area later today.

‘‘I can guarantee republicans will be trying to keep the situation calm, but I can’t speak for any other organisations,’’ he said.

Father Aidan Troy, chairman of the board of governors at the Holy Cross Primary School, which endured a three month loyalist blockade last year, expressed sadness at the huge security operation needed for the Ardoyne area.

He said: ‘‘I’m not apportioning blame but something is sadly wrong when two parts of the one community are facing each other like this with a huge security presence between them.

‘‘I will be trying over the next 12 months to see if anything can be done to alleviate the situation.’’