Belfast rioting over removal of Union Jack

[AQMP]

I'm not looking forward to this summer. And I live 250 miles away.

You're welcome to come to Fermanagh for a closer look!!

[Applesisapples]

Someone has handed Baggot his arse in a bag, that's why we are seeing all this belated activity. Watch out for a change of tactics from the PSNI.

[deiseach]

I'm not looking forward to this summer. And I live 250 miles away.

You're welcome to come to Fermanagh for a closer look!!

Have the good people of Fermanagh not had enough grief?

[Shamrock Shore]

Jamie Bryson and Willie Fraser

I hope either or both are put in a secluded cell with this fellow.

[Orior]

Jamie Bryson and Willie Fraser

I hope either or both are put in a secluded cell with this fellow.

He is wearing a crucifix, bless him.

[mylestheslasher]

I think the PSNI have played a shrewd enough game. All these boys wanted was  to be beaten of the street so that they could get more sympathy and support from more moderate loyalist/unionists and turning their protest into a larger "Unionism under threat" protest. They didn't get this and their protest has died on its feet with only a few loons taking part. It is now that the PSNI should go in there and start lifting  the trouble makers as people need to know you cannot go around rioting and blocking roads whenever you feel like it. They will be now behind bars and will have achieved nothing - thats a result in my opinion.

[Rossfan]

I think the two of them need full cavity searches just in case

In case there's a brain hidden somewhere ? 

[Orior]

I think the PSNI have played a shrewd enough game. All these boys wanted was  to be beaten of the street so that they could get more sympathy and support from more moderate loyalist/unionists and turning their protest into a larger "Unionism under threat" protest. They didn't get this and their protest has died on its feet with only a few loons taking part. It is now that the PSNI should go in there and start lifting  the trouble makers as people need to know you cannot go around rioting and blocking roads whenever you feel like it. They will be now behind bars and will have achieved nothing - thats a result in my opinion.

I was reading in the paper last night about a young lad in court who, according to his lawyer, "only went along to the protest to observe and then got sucked in and that he was very sorry and ashamed of what he did".

I bet the lawyer read that out with a straight face too.

[deiseach]

I was reading in the paper last night about a young lad in court who, according to his lawyer, "only went along to the protest to observe and then got sucked in and that he was very sorry and ashamed of what he did".

I bet the lawyer read that out with a straight face too.

Reminds me of the loyal sons of Ulster shown in a Loyalist drinking pit on Peter Taylor's documentary about Loyalists (called, funnily enough, Loyalists) who had their faces blocked out. I was shocked, Mr Taig Customer, to hear them singing songs about being up to their necks in Fenian blood, shocked. I thought it was a meeting of Quakers.

[Puckoon]

I think the PSNI have played a shrewd enough game. All these boys wanted was  to be beaten of the street so that they could get more sympathy and support from more moderate loyalist/unionists and turning their protest into a larger "Unionism under threat" protest. They didn't get this and their protest has died on its feet with only a few loons taking part. It is now that the PSNI should go in there and start lifting  the trouble makers as people need to know you cannot go around rioting and blocking roads whenever you feel like it. They will be now behind bars and will have achieved nothing - thats a result in my opinion.

I am with Myles on this.

[deiseach]

I'm sure the next Robert Hamill will appreciate the PSNI's long game.

[ziggysego]

I think the PSNI have played a shrewd enough game. All these boys wanted was  to be beaten of the street so that they could get more sympathy and support from more moderate loyalist/unionists and turning their protest into a larger "Unionism under threat" protest. They didn't get this and their protest has died on its feet with only a few loons taking part. It is now that the PSNI should go in there and start lifting  the trouble makers as people need to know you cannot go around rioting and blocking roads whenever you feel like it. They will be now behind bars and will have achieved nothing - thats a result in my opinion.

I am with Myles on this.

Whilst it was frustrating at the time to see them run riot (no pun instead), in the long run this is the right way to do it. Willie would love for nothing more to be carted off the street, during the height of the troubles in recent months, with all the television cameras on him. The PSNI didn't play into his hands.

Now it's up to them to ensure that they can make the conviction stick and throw this fool in prison for a wean of months.

[Puckoon]

I'm sure the next Robert Hamill will appreciate the PSNI's long game.

I think that is an unfair assessment. There would be IMVHO a bigger potential for innocent death due to escalation of the violence at the time than there may well be now.

[imtommygunn]

I'm sure the next Robert Hamill will appreciate the PSNI's long game.

I think that is an unfair assessment. There would be IMVHO a bigger potential for innocent death due to escalation of the violence at the time than there may well be now.

It's a shocking assessment.

Another factor here has to be the summer - based on last week's news that if you don't inform police you don't need the parades commission permission then a marker has to be left now that illegal marches won't be tolerated. If that's not done all hell will break loose in the summer. This will hopefully be the beginning of these proceedings.

[Milltown Row2]

I think the PSNI have played a shrewd enough game. All these boys wanted was  to be beaten of the street so that they could get more sympathy and support from more moderate loyalist/unionists and turning their protest into a larger "Unionism under threat" protest. They didn't get this and their protest has died on its feet with only a few loons taking part. It is now that the PSNI should go in there and start lifting  the trouble makers as people need to know you cannot go around rioting and blocking roads whenever you feel like it. They will be now behind bars and will have achieved nothing - thats a result in my opinion.

I was reading in the paper last night about a young lad in court who, according to his lawyer, "only went along to the protest to observe and then got sucked in and that he was very sorry and ashamed of what he did".

I bet the lawyer read that out with a straight face too.

His barrister would have read that to the court surely? Besides you don't get a lawyer to put you in jail