'Love Ulster' rally abandoned after clashes with gardaí

The organisers of the ‘Love Ulster’ parade have cancelled the event following violent clashes on O’Connell Street in Dublin.

Members of Republican Sinn Féin had become embroiled in clashes with gardaí in a bid to block the parade by the Orange Order and victims of IRA violence in the North.

Four gardaí were injured and taken to the Mater Hospital in the city.

One of the main shopping streets in the capital was closed down as tension rose.

Rubble and barricades from construction work on O'Connell Street were set on fire as riot police forced the crowd further into the city centre.

Parade organiser William Wilkinson said: “The on-going threat of Irish Republican violence both North and South, the fact that the violence undermines democracy and human rights at every level of society.”

“Today’s events, I think, are a let-down for this jurisdiction and certainly a let-down and disappointment for the police and it is something that we would like to see addressed”, he added.