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Riot Gardaí on O'Connell Street

The 2006 Dublin Republican riots are a series of riots which began as a contentious Love Ulster demonstration, scheduled to begin in Dublin, Ireland on the 25th February, 2006 when An Garda Síochána, the Irish police, attempted to disperse a group of Irish Republican counter-demonstrators who were blocking the route of the proposed march on O'Connell Street. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... To suggest a relevant news story for the main page, refer to the criteria then add your suggestion at the candidates page. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x768, 298 KB)Image by User:Hibernian, re-named to (25-02-06) by request. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x768, 298 KB)Image by User:Hibernian, re-named to (25-02-06) by request. ... French mobile gendarmes doing riot control. ... Daniel OConnell, 19th century nationalist leader, whose statue by John Henry Foley, stands on the street named after him. ... Riots occur when crowds of people have gathered and are committing crimes or acts of violence usually due to a perceived grievance or out of dissent. ... This page is about protests. ... Dublin (Irish: Baile Átha Cliath) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Ireland, located near the midpoint of Irelands east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the centre of the Dublin Region. ... February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI in Roman) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A member of the motorcycle unit of the Garda Síochána. ... Irish Republicanism is the nationalist belief that all of Ireland should be a united independent republic. ... Daniel OConnell, 19th century nationalist leader, whose statue by John Henry Foley, stands on the street named after him. ...

Background

"Love Ulster" is a Unionist organisation dedicated to commemorating the Unionist victims of The Troubles in Northern Ireland. This was organised in part by Willie Frazer of Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (FAIR). This is a group established to voice outrage at the killings by the Republican paramilitary organisations, but it has been criticised for not doing the same for victims of loyalist paramilitary organisations. Indeed, in the past, Frazer had said of loyalist paramilitary prisoners that, "they should never have been locked up in the first place" and that he had, "a lot of time for Billy Wright" (Susan McKay, Bitter Hatreds that underpin Love Ulster Parade in Dublin Irish Times page 15, Saturday February 25 2006). An example of this attitude is the previous displaying of the picture of of Robert McConnell, an Ulster Volunteer Force member who was involved in the murder (among others) of 26 people in Dublin in the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings of 1974 and was murdered himself by the IRA in 1976. His picture had appeared at FAIR rallies and an organiser of the "Love Ulster" demonstration previously told a republican newspaper that he would not guarantee that images of McConnell would not be displayed during the demonstration. ^[1] The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP, sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or OUP) is a political party in Northern Ireland representing the unionist community, and was the party of government in Northern Ireland between 1921 and 1972. ... The Troubles is a term used to describe two periods of violence in Ireland during the twentieth century. ... Dieu et mon droit (Royal motto) (French for God and my right)4 Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages none7 Main languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Peter Hain MP Area  - Total Ranked... For the township in Canada, see Loyalist, Ontario In general, a loyalist is an individual who is loyal to the powers that be. ... Billy Wright (July 7, 1960 - December 27, 1997) was a Northern Irish terrorist, a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and leader of the extremist Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF). ... The Ulster Volunteer Force (more commonly referred to as the UVF or by some of its supporters The Peoples Army) is a loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. ... The Dublin and Monaghan Bombings on May 17, 1974 left 33 people dead and almost 300 injured, the largest number of casualties in any single day in The Troubles connected to Northern Ireland. ...

The Love Ulster march in Dublin was to consist of a uniformed band, several hundred activists, some from the Orange Order, and relatives of victims. The march of this group in Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, was viewed as provocative by some Irish nationalists and Irish republicans. The "right to march" was supported by the main Irish political parties and the march was authorised by the Garda Síochána. Love Ulster had organised a similar rally in Belfast in October 2005. The Orange Order is a Protestant fraternal organisation largely based in the province of Northern Ireland and in western Scotland but which has a worldwide membership. ... Dublin (Irish: Baile Átha Cliath) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Ireland, located near the midpoint of Irelands east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the centre of the Dublin Region. ... An Irish nationalist is generally one who seeks (greater) independence of Ireland from Great Britain, including since 1921 the goal of a United Ireland. ... A database query syntax error has occurred. ... A member of the motorcycle unit of the Garda Síochána. ... Belfast (Béal Feirste in Irish) is a city in the United Kingdom. ...

The Riot

Car on fire on Nassau Street

Although Sinn Féin, an Irish republican party, did not organise a protest and said that the march should be allowed to go ahead, a more radical splinter group (which consisted largely of yobs), Republican Sinn Féin did. Their protest blocked the north eastern end of O'Connell Street where the Love Ulster group had planned to march. The small Republican Sinn Féin group were joined by several hundred local yobs, many covering their faces with Celtic scarves. Before the violence broke out, they chanted slogans such as "The I, The I, The IRA" and others that related to the Continuity IRA. Several thousand bystanders were also on the scene, but took no part in the subsequent rioting. When Gardaí attempted to disperse the protest at around 12:45, the yobs began to attack the Gardaí. Image File history File links 25-02-06_1444. ... Image File history File links 25-02-06_1444. ... It has been suggested that Provisional Sinn Féin be merged into this article or section. ... Irish Republicanism is the nationalist belief that all of Ireland should be a united independent republic. ... Republican Sinn Féin (RSF) is a minor political party operating in Ireland. ... Celtic Football Club, more commonly referred to simply as Celtic (pronounced seltik), is a famous football club. ... The Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) is an Irish republican paramilitary group that split from the Provisional IRA in 1986 in a dispute over the attendance of the elected representatives of Sinn Féin (the political party affiliated to the Provisional IRA) at Dáil Éireann (the lower house of...

Stones and metal railings – to be used for renovation work on O'Connell Street – were thrown at Gardaí, as were fireworks, bricks and other missiles. Some rioters had brought stocks of bottles with them. Several barricades were constructed from building materials on the street to impede the march and the Gardaí. The march was due to start at 12:30, however, as the violence went on, the Gardaí decided against trying to escort the marchers through O'Connell St. and at about 13:30, put the assembled marchers back onto the coaches that had brought them to Dublin from Northern Ireland. The three coaches were then driven to Leinster House, where they handed in a letter to Irish Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell. They were then escorted out of the city.^[2] One of the coaches was attacked by stone throwers on the way home near the town of Dundalk, County Louth. Dieu et mon droit (Royal motto) (French for God and my right)4 Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages none7 Main languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Peter Hain MP Area  - Total Ranked... Leinster House The former palace of the Duke of Leinster. ... Michael McDowell (pronounced McDool) (born May, 1951) is a senior Irish Progressive Democrats politician. ... Dundalk (Irish: Dún Dealgan) is the county town of County Louth in the Republic of Ireland, close to the border with Northern Ireland. ...

Violence continued sporadically on O'Connell Street for another hour or so. Several Gardaí, protesters and a number of journalists from RTÉ and TV3 were attacked. RTÉ's Chief News Correspondent, Charlie Bird was kicked and punched while being called an "Orange bastard" before being rescued by Special Branch officers. In addition, the windows of several businesses, including Foot Locker, Schuh and Ulster Bank near O'Connell Bridge, were smashed and at least one shop was looted. While the stand off on O'Connell Street was still going on, several hundred rioters followed the Unionist coaches to the Nassau Street area, where they set a number of cars alight and damaged several businesses. In addition, the headquarters of the Progressive Democrats party on South Frederick Street off Nassau Street was attacked. Further skirmishes broke out at O'Connell Bridge, Aston Quay, Fleet Street and Temple Bar, before the rioters dispersed. The most serious property damage was in the Nassau Street area, where three cars were burnt out, windscreens were smashed, and businesses had their windows broken. Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ; Irish for Radio and Television of Ireland) is the national publicly-funded broadcaster of Ireland. ... TV3 is a common name for television channels. ... Charles Charlie Bird (born September 9, 1949) is an Irish journalist. ... The Orange Order is a Protestant fraternal organisation largely based in the province of Northern Ireland and in western Scotland but which has a worldwide membership. ... Foot Locker Incorporated is an sportswear retailer based in the United States. ... Ulster Bank (Irish: Banc Uladh) is a large commercial bank, one of the Big Four in Ireland. ... The word Unionist, simply meaning one espousing a union, has a number of connotations, depending on context: Unionists are people in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales who were historically in favour of uniting their nations into a United Kingdom, or who in modern times wish their nations to remain part... The Progressive Democrats (in Irish An Páirtí Daonlathach, literal back-translation: The Democratic Party) is a free market liberal party in the Republic of Ireland founded in 1985. ... Temple Bar (Barra an Teampaill in Irish) is an area on the south bank of the River Liffey in central Dublin, Ireland. ...

Gardaí in front of a rubbish strewn O'Connell Street after rioters dispersed

The Gardaí then closed O'Connell Street to facilitate a clean up of the scene by building workers. Media reports have estimated the cost of the clean up job at €50,000. Estimates for the number of unionist marchers before the event were predicted to be over 1,000. However only three coach loads turned up in Dublin, indicating a far smaller number, in the region of 300. Estimates for the number of counter-demonstrators vary between 300 and 7,000. The number is made much more difficult to determine by the presence of the several thousand bystanders at the scene. Most of the rioters appeared to be local youths, though some, who brandished leaflets and other political literature, were clearly political activists. Republican Sinn Féin have issued a statement condemning what they said was an "underestimate of the true level of opposition to the march by the Irish government." Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2288x1712, 815 KB) Summary Image taken by User:Toofishes View of OConnell Street after rioters were pushed down the street. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2288x1712, 815 KB) Summary Image taken by User:Toofishes View of OConnell Street after rioters were pushed down the street. ... In the Irish context, Unionists form a group of largely (though not exclusively) Protestant people in Ireland, of all social classes, who wish to see the continuation of the Act of Union, as amended by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, under which the Northern Ireland provincial state created in... Republican Sinn Féin (RSF) is a minor political party operating in Ireland. ...

Injuries

A Garda is attended to by Paramedics after being attacked by protesters

A total of 14 people, including six Gardaí and a small number of journalists and photographers, were hospitalised as a result of the rioting. A further 41 people were arrested, according to RTÉ news. So far, 13 have been charged.^[3] Image File history File linksMetadata Gardagortaithe1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Gardagortaithe1. ... A member of the motorcycle unit of the Garda Síochána. ... Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ; Irish for Radio and Television of Ireland) is the national publicly-funded broadcaster of Ireland. ...

Official condemnation

Taoiseach (equivalent of a Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern condemned the riots, saying, "It is the essence of Irish democracy and republicanism that people are allowed to express their views freely and in a peaceful manner. People who wantonly attack Gardaí and property have no respect for their fellow citizens." Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, opposition leaders Enda Kenny of Fine Gael and Pat Rabbitte of the Irish Labour Party and Sinn Féin Dublin TD Sean Crowe also condemned the day's events. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams added his voice to the condemnation, saying, "There is no justification for what happened this afternoon in Dublin. Sinn Féin had appealed to people to ignore this loyalist parade and not to be provoked by it. Our view was that it should not be opposed in any way and we made that clear. Regrettably a small, unrepresentative group chose to ignore our appeal." The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, also condemned the rioters. Jeffrey Donaldson of the Democratic Unionist Party, who was in Dublin to address the Love Ulster march, said he was 'appalled' by the violence.^[4] The Taoiseach (plural: Taoisigh) or, more formally, An Taoiseach, is the head of government of the Republic of Ireland and the leader of the Irish cabinet. ... Patrick Bartholemew Ahern (Irish name: Pádraig Parthalán Ó hEachthairn) (born 12 September 1951), commonly called Bertie Ahern, is an Irish politician. ... Michael McDowell (pronounced McDool) (born May, 1951) is a senior Irish Progressive Democrats politician. ... Enda Kenny Enda Kenny (born 24 April 1951) is an Irish politician, leader of the Fine Gael party and Leader of the Opposition in Dáil Éireann. ... Fine Gael (IPA , though often mispronounced (approximate English translation: Family of the Irish) is the second largest political party in the Republic of Ireland. ... Pat Rabbitte (born May 18, 1949) is a senior Irish politician , who has been the leader of the Labour Party since 2002. ... Logo of the Irish Labour Party The Irish Labour Party (Irish: Páirti an Lucht Oibre) is the third largest political party in the Republic of Ireland. ... It has been suggested that Provisional Sinn Féin be merged into this article or section. ... Gerry Adams Gerry Adams, MP, MLA, (born October 6, 1948) is an Irish Republican politician and abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for West Belfast. ... The President of Ireland (Irish: Uachtarán na hÉireann) is the head of state of the Republic of Ireland. ... Mary Patricia McAleese (Irish name Máire Pádraigín Mhic Ghiolla Íosa; born 27 June 1951) is the eighth, and current, President of Ireland. ... Jeffrey Mark Donaldson (born 7 December 1962) is a Northern Irish politician and Member of Parliament for Lagan Valley. ... The Democratic Unionist Party is a right wing unionist party in Northern Ireland led by Ian Paisley. ...

O'Connell Street was closed off while the disturbances were occurring and afterwards for the clean-up operation but was re-opened later in the evening, though the majority of local businesses remained closed for the rest of the day.

References

1. ↑ Loyalists may carry Dublin bomber pictures - Daily Ireland
2. ↑ Clashes in Dublin over loyalist march - RTÉ
3. ↑ RTÉ reports 13 arrests
4. ↑ Officers injured in Dublin riot - BBC

External links

Wikinews has news related to:

Dublin unionist march turns violent

Wikinews has news related to:

Riots cease in Dublin against Unionist march

• Three gardaí injured as rioting breaks out at ‘Love Ulster’ parade - IOL
• Clashes in Dublin over loyalist march - RTÉ
• Officers injured in Dublin riot - BBC
• RTÉ reports 13 arrests
• video footage of attacks on cars on Nassau St
• photo essay - Indymedia.ie
• photographs of the riot