FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2002: Fifteen-year-old Joseph McLaughlin from the New Lodge was walking with friends on Friday night along the Cavehill Road around 10pm. When they got to the junction of Cavehill Road and loyalist Westland Road a car pulled up and the three friends saw up to three men jump out.
The men ran towards the three friends and as the friends tried to get away Joseph fell. The men then set upon him and he was badly beaten. So bad was the beating Joseph will have to go through reconstructive surgery to his face because of a number of breaks to his cheek bone. An operation to place pins and a plate is needed.
SAOIRSE has reported a number of these attacks on nationalists in the past number of weeks. There’s no doubt these attacks are carried out by loyalists and are clearly sectarian. SAOIRSE has also pointed out that these sectarian attacks are played down by papers and news outlets.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2002: In the Ballysillan area, the same loyalist area where only a number of weeks ago, loyalist gunmen gave to a loyalist gang as they wrecked 18 nationalist school teachers cars at the Our Lady of Mercy school and where three nationalists were shot by a loyalist gunman using a shotgun, almost a mile away on Wednesday, January 9, a number of weapons were found: One 2.2 rifle, a sawn-off pump action shotgun and a sawn-off shotgun, mags and bullets. Note. No-one was lifted in this RUC operation, unlike those carried out in nationalist areas where even being near to such a find could very well find you in prison.
On Saturday it was reported of an attack that had taken place in south Belfast on Friday, February 1, 2002 when loyalists (UDA/UFF) broke into the digs of two students in Fortuna Street off Donegall Road in the loyalist Village area.
The gang, six strong, used sledge-hammers to break through a door and then set upon the two Queens students who were beaten with clubs and the sledge-hammers, causing multiple injuries to the 20 and 21 year-old students. One suffered a fractured jaw and both suffered multiple cuts and bruising.
These attacks by loyalists against nationalist students in south Belfast have been ongoing for some time. This time their sectarianism and blind hate, seen not only an innocent Catholic student badly beaten, but also a Protestant student as well.
Both men are from outside Belfast – Armagh and Fermanagh. The president of the Students Unions, John Mackell said he feared that a “sinister anti-students movement” was developing. He said students have been warned to be vigilant.
MON. FEBRUARY 4, 2002: A student was forced to flee his home in the Village area of south Belfast after receiving a threat from the UDA/UFF loyalist death squad.
Sister Sarah Clarke, of the La Sainte Union order of nuns, who fought tirelessly for prisoners in English jails throughout the last 30 years, died.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2002: A booby-trap bomb was left at a British army training centre at Magilligan in Co Derry. A Ministry of Defence worker at the facility was seriously injured when the device exploded as he examined it.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2002: Around 10.30pm. A Loyalist mob crossed Arthur Bridge to attack the small nationalist enclave of Longlands. Bricks and bottles were used to attack nationalist homes.
As nationalists came onto the streets fighting took place around Arthur Bridge.
The nationalist street fighters managed to push the loyalist mob back but attacks still went on at Longlands and Gunnell Hill, at Whitewell Road. Petrol bombs were also thrown.
The fighting subsided after some time and Brit occupation forces flooded into the area.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2002: Once again fighting broke out at the Whitewell after loyalist youths attacked nationalists in Longlands and Whitewell.
Nationalists claimed the attacks were being carried out by the UDA/UFF.
Again, as nationalists came onto the streets to defend their families, homes and community, fighting took place; once again with nationalists pushing the loyalists back towards the loyalist White City. The fighting went on for some time.
One local woman told SAOIRSE: “This is a constant thing here. There just doesn’t look as if there’s going to be an end to it.
“It got worse again since Thursday night. I’ve no doubt the attacks towards the nationalist community are being planned and carried out by the UDA/UFF. Let’s face it. These people have been seen in the crowds across the way.
“We see loyalists on TV saying that houses on their side have been damaged. I’ve no doubt that is the case, but those houses have been damaged in the fighting that follows the loyalist attacks. How do you stop nationalist youths from defending their community. You can’t. The fact is you shouldn’t even try to. They have every right to be on the streets in defence of their community.
The fact is people should ask why is there a need to be on the streets in the first place. The people here know only too well why. Because there is a loyalist policy of ethnic cleansing towards the whole nationalist community. Not just here. Take a look of all of north Belfast.”
The fighting went on into the small hours of Monday morning.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2002: 7.00am. A group of loyalists crossed the Arthur Bridge and set about attacking homes in the nationalist Longlands area with bricks, stones and fireworks. Again, fighting took place as the nationalists in the houses under attack came out to fend off the loyalist attackers.
This trouble went on for a time before subsiding once again.
Brit/RUC occupation forces flooded the area and the RUC claimed to arrest two loyalists; a father and son. Reports later stated the son was out on bail on a charge of attacking nationalist homes earlier in the year.
Tension was once again very high. The nationalist Longlands area is a small area set in the back-drop of Cave Hill in north Belfast. The area has been the victim of constant loyalist terrorism.
Around 3.25pm. Loyalists from the Tigers Bay area came out through the gate in the so-called peace-line onto Duncairn Gardens where they set about attacking nationalist homes and cars.
The loyalists were soon confronted by nationalists. After a number of nationalist cars were damaged the nationalists pushed the loyalists back into Tigers Bay.
Again Brit/RUC occupation forces flooded into the area.
Also on Monday afternoon a cache of bottles and jars were found in the Tigers Bay area.
There were also reports of trouble on the Limestone Road. Again loyalists attacked nationalist homes.
Also on Monday loyalists attacked a commemoration garden on the Ormeau Road to the victims of the Seán Grahams Bookies murders.
The loyalists vandalised the site stealing a number of wreaths that had been placed by the families of the victims. The loyalists made off after shouting sectarian slogans.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2002: There were reports of stone throwing in a number of the so-called peace lines and interface areas. Minor to recent days.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2002: Some stone throwing again at Limestone Road. A number of bricks, stones and bottles were thrown towards Alliance Ave from the Alliance Road. Again Minor to that seen in recent days.
A pipe bomb and component parts for two other devices were found by the RUC/PSNI during a search of houses in Ballymena. A sawn-off shotgun and automatic pistol were also found. Shotgun cartridges and ammunition were also found during searches in the Clogh area of Co Antrim.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2003: Republican Sinn Féin members and supporters mounted a picket on O’Connell Bridge, Dublin in protest at the visit to Ireland of the heir to the British throne, Charles Windsor, Commander-in-Chief of the Parachute Regiment who shot dead 14 people in Derry on January 30, 1972.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2002: Trouble broke out on Friday afternoon as nationalists confronted loyalists who came out onto the Limestone Road and threw stones and bricks towards the nationalist part of the road.
The trouble went on for a time before subsiding. Tension in the area was high. Brit/RUC occupation forces moved into the area in force.
Also on Friday afternoon an RUC Land Rover driving at speed turned over as it turned from the Crumlin Road towards Ardoyne Road near the Ardoyne shops. The Land Rover rolled over onto its top.
As other RUC Land Rovers and Brit armoured cars rushed to the scene they were attacked by nationalist youths using stones and bottles.
The RUC claimed that three of its members were injured when the Land Rover turned over, one said to be badly injured.
The Land Rover came to rest on a footpath. If it had happened a week earlier, there’s no doubt school children who get off the school bus close to where the Land Rover had over-turned would have been caught up in the incident at that time of day. This week was half-term for schools and this surely saved lives.
Time and time again Republican Sinn Féin have pointed out the dangers of the driving at speed of occupation armoured cars and Land Rovers through the streets of north Belfast and the fact that these vehicles very often mount footpaths in nationalist areas as those driving them try to run down nationalist youths.
Friday came to an end with minor trouble in a number of interface areas, mostly bricks and bottles being used, between groups of loyalists and nationalists.
A pipe bomb was discovered by a member of staff in the grounds of the Braid Valley hospital, on a pathway at the side of Dunclug school near the Cushendall Road in Ballymena, Co Antrim. The device was made safe.
Members of the RUC/PSNI came under attack in Belsteel Road in the Dunmurry area of Belfast. They were attacked by a large crowd throwing petrol bombs, bricks and bottles. One policeman was injured.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2002: Saturday was again witness to minor trouble in a number of interface areas. Limestone Road was once again the scene for trouble and stones were thrown at the back of nationalist homes at Alliance Ave.
One man was arrested when a handgun and assault rifle was seized during a search of a house in Holywood, Co Down.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2002: Trouble broke out once more between loyalists and nationalists near to Newington Street; mostly stone throwing. Loyalists who came out onto the Limestone Road were confronted by nationalists.
The fighting went on for a short time as loyalists were pushed back towards their own area again. Brit/RUC occupation forces moved into the area. The trouble subsided but tension was high.
Four men were arrested in Coalisland, Co Tyrone following the discovery by the RUC/PSNI of a rocket launcher and primed warhead at Ardmore Road, near the police station.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2002: Monday afternoon was witness to yet more trouble in the Limestone Road area as nationalists once more confronted loyalists who were stoning the area. Once again Brit/RUC occupation forces moved into the area and the fighting subsided after a time.
Once again loyalists at Glenbryn threatened to restart the unjust protest against the Holy Cross primary school children because they claimed promises made to them by Brit government ministers at Stormont were taking too long to be fulfilled.
These loyalists were in fact holding the Holy Cross children to ransom.
It is also clear that the threat of loyalist violence towards the primary school children of Holy Cross is always there.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2002: Minor trouble in a number of areas. Not on the level as seen in recent days.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2002: No reports of trouble.
The RUC/PSNI attacked a crowd outside East Tyrone magistrate’s court in Cookstown, Co Tyrone when four men – Donald Mullan (31) of Fairmount Park, Dungannon, Brendan O’Connor (23) of Cavanoneill Road, Pomeroy, Seán Dillan (24) of Roughan Way, Coalisland and Kevin Barry Murphy (31) of Altowen Park, Coalisland – were charged with possessing a rocket-propelled grenade and launcher with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to murder members of the British Crown Forces.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2002: Loyalist youths stoned houses on the nationalist side of Alliance Ave. Stones were thrown over the new so-called peace line from the Alliance Road on the loyalist side. No damage was done. There were no further reports of trouble.
Brit occupation forces, UDR/RIR and Highland Fusiliers, set up a number of road blocks around north Belfast, stopping traffic and causing jams in a number of areas. Drivers were questioned as to where they were coming from and going to.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2002: 8am. Once again Brit occupation forces, UDR/RIR and Highland Fusiliers set up a number of road blocks around north Belfast. Three of these in the Old Park area, on the Old Park Road near the chapel, and one on the Hill View Road, which runs between the Crumlin Road and the Old Park Road.
The road blocks caused problems for people trying to get to work and children going to school and also caused a number of traffic jams in the area.
The road blocks were moved about and set up in different areas through the day and again into the night. People remarked how it was a throw-back to the 1980s. Also, occupation forces were heavy on the ground.
Matt Burns (26) from Ballynahinch, Co Down was shot dead near his mother’s house on the Burren Road estate, outside Castlewellan, Co Down.
A pipe bomb was found close to the police station in Kilrea, Co Derry while another suspicious object discovered at the junction of the Drumcroon and Moneycarry Roads at Garvagh in the same county was declared a hoax.
Security alerts were also reported at Swatragh GAA club, A bar in Maghera and on that town’s Maghera Road. Two controlled explosions were carried out near Maghera, causing the closure of the Glenshane Pass for the afternoon.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2002: About 11am. Loyalists from the Tigers Bay area came out onto the Limestone Road. The crowd of over 60 loyalists set about attacking the nationalist Parkend, Clanchattan Street and Newington Street.
The loyalists, who were armed with baseball bats, bricks and bottles were confronted by a group of nationalists who came out of their homes to fend off the loyalist attack.
Fighting took place with the nationalist fighters managing to push the loyalists back and both sides faced each other on the Limestone Road.
Brit/RUC occupation forces flooded the area, pushing nationalists into Newington Street. An RUC man drew a weapon; the weapon was drawn against the people who were out in the defence of their families, homes and community.
Three nationalists were also lifted by Brit Crown Forces.
Members of the notorious neo-Nazi group Combat 18 were also among the loyalist crowd; the neo-Nazi group over from Scotland.
Loyalist mouth-piece Eddie McClean, using the heading of community worker, rubbished claims from nationalists that Combat 18 were in Tigers Bay.
Readers should take note than when nationalist homes were attacked by loyalist gunmen and bombers and a nationalist man was almost beaten to death by loyalists on New Years morning, Mr McClean blamed all those attacks on nationalist joy riders. The man has trouble not only with facts, but the truth is something he just can’t comprehend.
Tension was high in the area with groups of people standing about the streets as day turned into night.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2002: Tension was still high in the Limestone Road, Newington Street area on Sunday and groups of people stood around at street corners. Brit/RUC occupation forces were heavy on the ground. A stand-off situation took place which set the scene for the rest of the day.
It was reported that applications for Holy Cross girls primary school are down on last year and 16 children have been taken out of the school and placed in other schools by their parents during the unjust protest by loyalist bigots at Glenbryn.
The Principal of Holy Cross primary, Anne Tanney, said that the events of the First three months of term had undoubtedly taken their toll on local parents. She added: “There’s no doubt that our admission has been affected. Admission to the school is now down to around half of what it normally is.”
Holy Cross school as shown by the above report is still the on-going victim of loyalist hate and sectarianism.
The attacks on the children and their parents have had a long term effect on the children, parents and school. A high price that is still being paid. The fear of loyalist attack on the children and the school is very real and parents are now seeking to have their children placed in schools that at the very least gives their children safety from loyalist bigots.
MON. FEBRUARY 25: A hoax pipe bomb was discovered outside Magherafelt, Co Derry.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2002: Nationalist workers at Carmoney cemetery were threatened by the UDA/UFF to leave their work under the threat of death. Carmoney is in the Newtownabbey area.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2002: The RUC/PSNI made public a poster with details of 30 people they claim were rioters in Ardoyne, north Belfast. Republican Sinn Féin in north Belfast condemned the release of the poster being set up by the police for loyalist attacks.
Also on Wednesday night loyalists attacked a nationalist house in Newington Street. The house was targeted in a pipe bomb attack and the explosion was heard over north Belfast.
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