CCTV footage of parade to be examined

Police were tonight examining CCTV footage in a bid to make more arrests following violence which marred a loyalist parade in Derry earlier in the day.

Eleven people have already been arrested and are facing public order charges as nationalist mobs stoned police and burned two vehicles during an annual Apprentice Boys’ parade.

The trouble began as the march approached the Diamond in the centre of the city. Police moved in to disperse crowds of nationalist youths who were encroaching on the parade route.

A group of Protestant youths wearing Glasgow Rangers shirts were taunting nationalists and were moved away.

A woman and two small children narrowly escaped injury after a crowd of around 50 nationalists hurled stones and bottles at riot police, who baton charged the mob.

A number of people were injured during the clashes and police made some arrests. They managed to push the crowd down Shipquay Street away from the parade.

Sporadic rioting continued until around 6pm, when the situation was described as tense.

Four Chinese rockets were fired horizontally at police officers during the trouble.

Around 2,000 loyalists took part in the parade, which culminates in the burning of an effigy of Lundy, regarded as a traitor by loyalists during the Siege of Derry in 1689.

Police had erected large plastic screens at the Diamond in the city centre to divide nationalist protesters from marchers.

Despite discussions between the Apprentice Boys and the nationalist Bogside Residents Group, there had been fears of violence because the march coincided with the Old Firm derby between Rangers and Celtic.

The violence was condemned by Derry City SDLP councillor Pat Ramsey.

He said: “It is a serious disappointment that the Apprentice Boys’ march in Derry ended in such violence. It is inexcusable, especially in the Christmas season, that the city of Derry’s name should be tarnished in such a manner.”