Northern riots: Orange disorder

THE appalling scenes on the streets of Belfast on Monday are evidence of an uncomfortable truth: whatever about the IRA and other paramilitary organisations, violence in Northern Ireland has not gone away.

Twenty-four police officers were injured during rioting at the end of a largely peaceful Twelfth of July, Orange Order commemoration.

Like British soccer thugs of the 1980s, loyalist rioters came armed for violence. All major political and civic organisations have condemned the violence, but the Orange Order has been disturbingly reticent to add its voice.

In a mealy-mouthed comment on the violence, a spokesman for the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland said: “Those involved in violence should desist.”

Describing the riots as counterproductive, he added: “Such actions are only strengthening the hand of those who wish to further curtail our parades.”

That shows the Orange Order is more concerned with its image than with the safety of citizens or police.