ireland, irish, ulster, belfast, northern ireland, british, loyalist, nationalist, republican, unionist

(Editorial, Irelandclick.com)

If there was any doubt before, then none can remain this morning (Monday). The Orange Order and loyalist paramilitary groups acted hand-in-glove in bringing chaos to the streets of the North at the weekend. PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde says that his men witnessed members of the Orange Order engaged in conversation with men wearing masks, while men in collarettes were involved in attacks on the PSNI.

No less a personage than the top cop in the North has stated categorically that the Orange Order is a player in the violence, and that is something that can only have profound implications when the Parades Commission comes to consider the next controversial application.

This latest round of violence is not aimed at forcing the Orange Order down the Springfield Road in 2005 – that issue is over for another year. Rather, the violence is aimed at putting pressure on the British Government, the Parades Commission and the PSNI. Unionist politicians, the Orange Order and loyalist paramilitaries are united in the hope that rather than countenance another round of widespread violence of the kind we witnessed on Saturday and Sunday, the authorities will take the line of least resistance and push contentious marches through in the future. Were this to happen then the British Government will have sent out the message that it is prepared to abdicate its responsibility in the face of threats and that can only mean more chaos.

For their part, certain unionist politicians whose words in recent days have been less than placatory, have given up their right to lecture anybody on law and order.

This article appeared first on the Irelandclick.com web site on September 12, 2005.