Irish Staging Protest against Queen’s Visit

Hundreds of republicans gathered on Belfast’s Black Mountain after violence broke out in protests against Queen’s visit to Northern Ireland.

A potentially dangerous standoff between dissident republicans and loyalists to the British monarchy broke out on Tuesday night on Belfast’s Black Mountain over a protest against the Queen’s visit to Northern Ireland.

At least one republican was taken to hospital after being beaten during the afternoon with hatchets and hammers by a gang of loyalists who were trying to remove sheets spelling out the slogan “Eriu is Our Queen” – a reference to a Irish Celtic warrior queen – and a massive Irish tricolour that could be seen from the air.

The loyalist attack prompted hundreds of republicans from various factions opposed to Sinn Féin to gather during the evening on the mountainside overlooking the city.

Earlier, a police helicopter was deployed to try to use down draft to blow away the giant flag and the slogan.

One republican veteran said “the call has gone out” to republicans across the city to restore the visual protest on the mountain even if it means clashing with loyalists from the nearby Springmartin housing estate.

Unionist politicians called on the police to take action against the protest before Martin McGuinness is due to shake hands with the Queen on Wednesday.
The St James’ area and Broadway district have also been hit by rioting as republicans protest against the Queen’s visit.