WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2002: With tension still high and those nationalists living on the front line still under loyalist attack and areas of north and east Belfast were under a state of siege. The Provisional unionist Lord Mayor of Belfast Alex Maskey, in his latest act of union with England, placed the national flag of Ireland alongside the butchers apron in Belfast City Hall.
Maskey then talked of equality and how everyone was equal now the national flag was alongside the Union flag in the City Hall.
For those of us not far-sighted enough to see through this latest escapade, this stunt may have worked, but even Mr Maskey must realise he can't fool all of the people. True meaningful equality can only come in an All-Ireland settlement and that alone.
The settlement the Provisionals have now settled for will only serve to breed inequality blocking any movement forward to the All-Ireland Republic where all our people will be equal living in peace and freedom.
Alex Maskey should ask those living on the front-line sitting in their wrecked homes, what they think of his kind of equality.
Also on Wednesday the face of Brit Occupation in the form of Brit Secretary of State for the Occupied Six Counties, John Reid, did a walk about in East Belfast.
Nationalists in Short Strand held a muted protest. There's very little doubt this was down to the Provisionals influence. Only a number of people voiced protest and anger, but feelings on the ground and anger are running at an all-time high. This raises the question why wasn't the protest more forceful? Again we point to the influence of the Provisionals.
Reid also visited loyalist east Belfast, where loyalists blamed everything on the nationalist community. There's no doubt that damage has been done there.
But isn't it a fact that when a community is attacked then that community will defend itself, as it has every right to do, but, the blame surely lies with those who single out a community for attack in the first place.
On Wednesday morning part of a bomb went off under the car of a Newtownabbey Councillor. Mack Langhammer said he believed the UFF carried out the attack which took place at his Shore Road home.
Throughout the day stone throwers in the Glenbryn area stoned the back of the nationalist homes in the Alliance Avenue.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2002: Although there was some stoning of the houses on the Alliance Avenue it was said by locals to be quiet, although an uneasy quiet.
“Writing on the wall targets Provisionals.” A slogan on a gable wall in Ardoyne's Jamaica Street sums up underlying feelings. As far as the Provisionals are concerned the slogan reads: “I Ran Again”.
It was also reported that a number of paint bombs were thrown at Holy Cross Chapel by loyalists from the Woodvale area.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2002: Friday was witness to minor stone throwing at interface areas, in what has become a pattern in loyalist attacks. The heavy attacks on the nationalist community have died down; but this does not ease fears within the nationalist community, who know only to well the next attack on their community is more than likely being planned. Tension is high more so at night as the nights start to draw in the tension and fear will grow.
Stones were thrown at the back of houses in Alliance Avenue but this lasted only a matter of minutes.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2002: It was reported in today's North Belfast News, that a decision was made to grant £4,000 and the use of the City Hall for a memorial day for the UVF'’s youth wing YCV 'Young Citizens Volunteers'.
Brendan Bradley of the Survivors of Trauma, North Belfast attacked the decision saying that the YCV had been responsible for at least three murders of nationalists, one of them young John Rolston, a 16-year-old nationalist from Fairy Knowe Park, Glengormley. Mr. Bradley said the funding for the YCV Memorial Day is an insult.
Also on Saturday, the monthly white-line picket held by Republican Sinn Féin outside the Belfast Office on the Falls Road, in support of the POW's took place under the watchful eye of two RUC Land Rovers, one sitting at the white-line picket as it faces down the Falls Road. The other at the other end it faces up the Falls Road. The RUC stayed until the picket was over. Both of the Land Rovers had fixed video cameras inside the front windscreen.
Republican Sinn Féin spokesperson Joe Lagan told SAOIRSE “It’s an obvious stepping up of RUC harassment. There is no surprise there, but there is concern that those on the white line picket had been filmed by the RUC.
“That concern is what such footage will be used for, and how much of it will be given to the RUC's counterparts in the loyalist paramilitaries. The RUC should know by now any attempt to intimidate Republican Sinn Féin off the streets will fail. We are committed and determined and that is why they [RUC] fear us.”
Elsewhere, north Belfast went through the day in an uneasy calm. There was a number of stone throwing attacks throughout the day.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2002: Just into Sunday morning a nationalist crowd attacked an RUC patrol in the Falls Road area. The RUC who claimed they attempted to lift a drunk driver said five of their officers had been badly beaten. Locals claimed that the RUC were heavy handed with people and threatened to fire their short arms.
Also in the small hours, loyalists attacked a number of houses in a mixed area of Skegoniel off the Antrim Road in North Belfast. Using concrete blocks, bricks and other weapons, the loyalists broke a number of windows and damaged cars in Asfield Gardens and Skegoniel Avenue.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2002: There were reports of minor trouble in north Belfast again. Stone throwing took place in Alliance Avenue, as loyalists stoned nationalist homes from the loyalist Glenbryn area. The rest of the day passed on the same way.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2002: A loyalist, a member of the trades union, as he described himself, who didn't wish to be named, claimed his home in the Deerpark area of North Belfast, was targeted by Republicans who broke a number of windows.
He also claimed that the attack on his home was carried out by Republican hardliners who he claimed had moved into the area to drive Protestants out. These claims have no doubt opened a very dangerous situation for nationalists living in the Deer Park area, who are already under constant loyalist attack. There has also been attacks by loyalists on Protestant homes, who it's believed they had mistaken for nationalists. The very dangerous claims made by this man who claimed he works for both communities as a member of a trade union, will without a doubt, be used by loyalists as an excuse, not as if they need one, to attack nationalists in the area. These claims have caused fear and concern within the nationalist area of north Belfast.
Tension was at a high level but there were no reports of trouble.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2002: Loyalist riot in the loyalist Mount Vernon in North Belfast, after an RUC raid. Loyalists claimed the RUC went into Mount Vernon Gardens heavy handed. The RUC claimed a number of Land Rovers were damaged after breeze blocks were dropped on them from the Mount Vernon flats. The RUC also claimed they found over 300 rounds of ammunition; the rioting went on for some time.
There was yet more stone throwing as nationalists homes in Alliance Avenue, this was on and off through the day and into the night.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2002: Loyalist Davy Mahood claimed that a gunman tried to shoot him as he drove along Old Park Road in North Belfast. Davy Mahood, who is a UDA spokesman for the so-called UPRG (Ulster Political Research Group) claimed a gunman came out of Cliftondene Park and fired shots before the gun jammed.
Davy Mahood said later “I don't know who carried out this attack. I don't believe it was loyalists and I don't know why Republicans would carry out such an attack as I work for both communities.” At this time it would be better to point out that Davy Mahood is not known for working for both communities.
As for Republicans carrying out this gun attack this is doubtful. The fact is there is a struggle going on within the UDA in north Belfast and the gunman was more than likely loyalist. The place where the attack took place is also a few hundred yards from the bottom end of Glenbyrn.
But the fact that all this points the finger at loyalists, that didn't stop Brit Stormont MLA Gerry Kelly saying in a interview that the attack was either loyalist or other Republican groups.
The thinking behind such a statement, questionable tension in north Belfast was high and an uncertain air fell over the area. Again there was stone throwing at the nationalist houses in Alliance Avenue from the loyalist Glenbryn area.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2002: News broke of a shooting in Newtonards, fears were that loyalists may have shot a nationalist. As the day went on it became clear that in fact a member of the LVF had been shot. It is believed it was down to loyalists fighting over drugs. The LVF man was named as Stephen Warnock.
Around 2.30pm loyalist stone throwers once again targeted nationalist houses in Alliance Avenue. This went on throughout the day. At around 9.35pm loyalist bombers attacked a house in the Alliance Avenue when they threw a bomb, believed to be a pipe bomb, over the so-called peace line into the back garden. The young family living there had a lucky escape. The Brit/RUC Occupation forces flooded into the area. Tension stayed high.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2002: It was been reported that in the last number of weeks there has been a number of attempted sectarian attacks carried out by loyalists who have chased after a number of nationalists as they walked near Carlisle Circus.
On Saturday afternoon around 4.20pm, loyalists carried out an attack on a group of men standing at Atlantic Avenue, Newington, near to the Antrim Road. Gunmen in a red car opened fire hitting three of the men before driving off towards Tigers Bay.
There is little doubt that this was an attempt at mass murder, as there were many others standing in the group, who stand there everyday. As it was, three were hit in the stomach, one in the shoulder and another suffered a slight head wound.
It was reported today that an 18-year-old youth who was hit by an RUC car near the waterworks on the Antrim Road, North Belfast, in the early hours of Saturday morning had died. The young man, a nationalist, it was claimed by the RUC/PSNI, ran out in front of their car. There is concern within the nationalist community of the high level of dangerous driving by Brit/RUC Occupation forces through nationalist areas.
This is the second time in as many months that a nationalist youth has been hit on the same road. Alliance Avenue came under attack from loyalists in the Glenbryn area. The loyalists used bricks, stones and bottles to carry out the attacks that were on an off throughout the day.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2002: Sunday was witness to trouble in the Alliance Avenue throughout the day; minor stone throwing took place from early on in the day. As the day went on the loyalists soon turned their attention to the bottom end of Alliance Avenue, known as the Deerpark end; here an onslaught was kicked off by loyalists that went on for some time.
Nationalists who went to this part of the area soon put up a defence action, and bricks and bottles and whatever else the defenders could find at hand were used in defence.
Loyalists damaged a number of houses; this went on for some time; Brit/RUC occupation forces flooded into nationalist Alliance Avenue and took up positions blocking any move by nationalists to take defence action.
Tension stayed high as crowds of people stayed in the area ever watchful for the next attack on their community.
About a mile away in the Old Park Road at around 11pm, local people claimed that four men, who came up from the loyalist part of the Old Park Road in a car, dropped something on the ground near Hillview Road.
Locals claimed to have witnessed the RUC stop the car, take the men out, and question them for a while before putting white suits on them and taking them away.
The Old Park Road was closed for a number of hours, as a Brit bomb squad worked on what many in the Old Park Road/Bone area believe was a bomb.
People are asking questions about the whole event that took place on Sunday night, there has been nothing further on the incident, only a few months earlier in the Westland Road three loyalists were lifted by the RUC and a gun uncovered.
This incident was in papers and on the television/radio, yet, this too like that on Sunday night, was not heard of again. There's little wonder people are asking questions.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2002: Monday once again was witness to stoning in north and east Belfast. Alliance Avenue was once again the target for loyalists from the Glenbryn area.
On Monday night nationalists confronted loyalists at the top on Alliance Avenue and Ardoyne Road. Fighting took place for a time, but subsided as Brit/RUC Occupation Forces moved in.
The loyalists now moved their attack once again down to the Deerpark end of the Alliance Avenue and nationalist homes here were stoned for some time.
On the Antrim Road a nationalist woman and her family had a lucky escape when loyalists threw two pipe bombs from a car around 10.25pm. One of the bombs went through a down stairs window. The woman who is pregnant is still being treated in the Royal Victoria Hospital.
Also on Monday night, top UDA man Jim Gray, who the UDA would term as their East Belfast brigadier, was shot and wounded in the face by the LVF in what many believe is infighting between one part of the UDA in East Belfast and the UDA backing the LVF in north and west Belfast.
And it's all about the drug-lords within these groups. But, as with all loyalist infighting, to take pressure off themselves they step up their targeting of nationalists; this is now of real concern within the nationalist community.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2002: Throughout the day loyalists threw stones and fireworks into the backs of nationalist houses in Alliance Avenue. On Tuesday night there was more stone throwing from loyalist Alliance Road area at the houses in the Alliance Avenue at the Deerpark end.
As nationalists gathered at the top of Etna Drive and Jamaica Street, they soon returned stones and bricks in kind to those of the loyalists, this being a defence action. But, unlike the loyalists who had a free hand to do what they liked, the nationalists, many young children, were set upon by riot clad RUC. One child who was in the shop at the corner of Etna Drive and Alliance Avenue was manhandled and dragged from the shop into the street by two RUC men. Only for the action of a number of women, the child aged about 10 years old would have no doubt ended up with a beating.
Tension was very high in the area. There were reports of minor stone throwing in other interface areas.
In the Old Park Road/Bone area nationalist youths kept up attacks on Brit Occupation forces vehicles as they traveled up and down the Old Park Road throughout the day.
Also throughout the week post-ceasefire, Provisionals patrolled the area in cars. These Provos have become known locally as the “Provie Police” and this isn't by any means in an affectionate way. These Provie Police are also known locally by other names, but these very often can't be repeated! This clearly shows the contempt that nationalists have for these people.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2002: Once again fireworks were used against the nationalist houses in the Alliance Avenue as well as stone throwing. This started around late afternoon and was ongoing through the day. At about 9pm loyalists again attacked the houses at the bottom of Alliance Avenue.
As groups of nationalists gathered at the top of Etna Drive, a bomb was thrown over the so-called peace-line at the Alliance Avenue/Alliance Road about 9.10pm and landed near JR's video shop.
Brit/RUC Occupation Forces moved into the area and closed the Alliance Avenue for a time, as the Brit bomb squad moved in. Tension was high.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2002: Thursday saw yet more stone throwing at Alliance Avenue. During the night a number of nationalist houses were hit. Fireworks were also used. Brit/RUC Occupation forces were heavy on the ground.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2002: Today again saw a replay of the day before as loyalists in the Glenbryn area stoned nationalist homes at the Alliance Avenue.
Around 9pm on the Old Park Road children threw stones at Brit Army APC's. At one stage two of these vehicles gave chase down one of the small side streets barely broad enough for cars let alone these big carriers. The children had to run for their lives, some as young as three or four years old who were playing in the street.
It was also reported by the RUC that they had uncovered an arms find in the Upper Crumlin Road, a loyalist area.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2002: Just into Saturday morning loyalists carried out a number of attacks on nationalist houses in the Bawnmore Park, Whitewell and Longlands Court areas. In all these arracks a shotgun was used which was fired through the front windows of all the houses attacked. There were no injuries.
Tension was high in these areas because of a loyalist band parade that will take place close to all these areas.
The loyalists claimed the parade was to mark the first anniversary of Thomas McDonald, a Protestant knocked down and killed, it was claimed, after he had stoned a car driven by a Catholic woman. This anniversary was marked by a loyalist band parade which targeted these nationalist areas with sectarian loyalist slogans and music. It was a parade of triumph rather than respect for the dead.
Also on Saturday just before noon, north Belfast UDA/UFF leader Andre Shoukri was arrested in the loyalist Rathcoole area along with another loyalist after a gun and bullets were found in the car.
The RUC claimed to have acted against Shoukri after a massive operation to stop loyalist infighting. An operation that has also seen them flood into the nationalist Bone and Ardoyne areas.
The reasoning here is believed to have been no more than an excuse (if indeed an excuse is needed) to harass nationalists, stopping cars and questioning drivers leaving these areas.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2002: Sunday was witness to more stone throwing at the nationalist houses in the Alliance Avenue; this went on throughout the day.
In east Belfast, St. Matthews chapel on the Newtonards Road was attacked by loyalists using paint bombs; a number of these paint bombs hit the Bell Tower causing damage.
On the Springfield Road a crowd of loyalists attacked nationalist homes in the Upper Springfield area, just another part of the ongoing attacks carried out in this part of West Belfast.
At one stage witnesses said loyalists pulled or kicked railings down near the Mackie site to get at the nationalist houses. Other attacks carried out on nationalist houses by loyalists from the West Circular Road area.
West Belfast black taxi drivers said it was a miracle that no one has been killed in the ongoing air rifle attacks. Drivers say that loyalists using the powerful weapon have fired it at a number of black taxis driving along the Stewartstown Road.
A pellet from the air rifle went through the taxi door leaving a hole like a bullet hole in it. There's no doubt that these pellet's can do a lot of damage. There has been a number of such attacks.
In one, the weapon was used to target a home on Black's Road, being fired through a living room window where a number of children were watching television.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2002: There were loyalist attacks in a number of parts of north Belfast. For those living on the front line in the Alliance Avenue it was a case of yet more of the same.
Loyalists in the Glenbryn area used stones, bricks and bottles to attack the nationalist houses. In the Newington area a weekend of loyalist stoning went on with houses in the nationalist Newington Street coming under attack from loyalists using bricks, bottles and paint bombs.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2002: Tuesday saw yet more stone-throwing in a number of interface areas in north and east Belfast.
On Tuesday night around 10pm loyalist gunmen fired through the window of a house in Hyndforde street in east Belfast.
A man living in the house was hit a number of times, the shooting is believed to be a part of the ongoing loyalist feud: the latest victim is believed to be innocent.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2002: Minor stone-throwing took place throughout the day in the Alliance Avenue. At the top end of the Alliance Avenue around 7pm youths stoned each other at Ardoyne Road.
It has been reported that the so-called Inner Council have booted notorious Shankill Road UDA leader Johnny Adair out of the UDA. It is claimed that Adair was in a bid to take over the UDA, this infighting on the face of it to be a struggle for power.
There is little doubt that money and drugs are at the back of it, likewise there is little doubt within the nationalist community that it is they who will pay the price.
On Wednesday night a number of paint bombs were thrown by loyalists in the Woodvale Road at Holy Cross Chapel. These attacks have been ongoing.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2002: It has become clear over the past number of days that the RUC/PSNI are pursuing young nationalists in a number of nationalist areas of north Belfast at this stage.
The RUC/PSNI have called to a number of homes looking for the youths as young as 14 and 15 years of age, claiming to have them on video rioting. They have also threatened parents that if they don't bring their children to the nearest barracks and hand them over, the parents themselves will be arrested. This is unique in as only young nationalists are being actively pursued in this way. No surprise at all to anyone within the nationalist community.
There was yet another day of stone-throwing attacks on the nationalist houses in the Alliance Avenue; these attacks once again coming from the loyalist Glenbryn area, there was also reports of minor stoning in other parts of north and east Belfast.
Also on Thursday night a community care worker was viciously beaten by a member of the RUC/PSNI in Antrim Road barracks. Tony Doran had to be treated in the Mater Hospital after the attack for severe bruising to his face and body. He was arrested with his brother and a friend earlier on the Mallusk Road after witnessing a car crash.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2002: The shooting of a man working in a garage in Isoline Street in East Belfast this afternoon was believed to be a part of the loyalist infighting that has been going on. Concern was growing within the nationalist areas about a UVF march due to take place in Belfast at 6pm to mark the anniversary of the founding of the group.
The UVF marchers marched through a number of areas to Belfast city centre bringing thousands of loyalists to the streets. Nationalists were fearful with good reason that these loyalists will turn their sectarianism to attacking their community. Friday night saw loyalists in the Glenbryn area step up their attacks on the nationalist houses in Alliance Avenue, damage was caused to a number of the houses.
It was reported that the UDA’s Belfast Brigade had expelled Johnny Adair.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2002: After yet another night of loyalist attacks on t he nationalist houses in the Alliance Avenue, the people set about clearing up the stones, bricks and broken bottles, as this clearing up is going on loyalists once more kick out another day of attacks, as stones and bottles along with other weapons are thrown over the so-called peace-line.
At around 6.10pm loyalist bombers threw a pipe bomb from Glenbryn Park into Alliance Avenue, the bomb went through the back window of a car and went off beside a baby seat. The woman car-owner escaped along with the three-year-old child with her only by seconds. Loyalist attacks went on through the rest of the night.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2002: Just into Sunday morning a young woman living at the top end of Alliance Avenue, heard something out at the front of her house, when she went outside to investigate she was set upon by a crowd of loyalists and badly beaten.
Before local people came to her aide the loyalists ran off towards the Ardoyne Road and Glenbryn.
Sunday was just more of the same for nationalists living on the many frontlines in north Belfast. There were attacks throughout the day in Alliance Avenue. There were also reports of attacks in east Belfast as loyalists threw stones, bottles and other weapons in to Short Strand.
Also on Sunday night loyalists in Glenbryn claimed nationalists threw a number of petrol bombs into their area.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2002: In interface areas in north and east Belfast it was a matter of the morning after the night before, clearing up bricks, stones and broken bottles. In Alliance Avenue there was no let up in the attacks on nationalist homes.
In the Old Park/ Cliftonville area, a bomb was found near the Irish school in Wyndham Street around 6.20pm. The RUC/PSNI later claimed that it was a hoax. Locals question this claim.
Loyalists also threw a pipe bomb into Newington Street where children were playing. No-one was hurt. Around 10pm loyalist petrol bombers attacked nationalist Strand Walk in the Short Strand area.
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