Sir, – Since from the time of the initial flag protest of December 3rd, shopkeepers, traders and hoteliers in Belfast have been held to ransom, with an aggregate loss of millions of pounds in earnings.
A blind eye has been turned to the basic concept that obstruction of public roads, which all have a right to use, is against the law.
As a consequence, police officers have been exposed time and again to serious riots and have sustained injuries due to the inept, incompetent and negligent policing policy that has not only failed to quell the disturbances, but has made the public order situation worse at a total cost, so far, to the taxpayer of £4 million.
The PSNI chief constable, Matt Baggott, has a lot to say about the situation, when it would be far better were he to keep quiet and get on with his duty of providing resolute policing that would put an end to the violent protests. Earlier this month, he stated, “You may be assured there will be sufficient resources in the event of more disorder for however long is necessary.”
What is necessary is for him to see to it that the law is fairly yet firmly enforced.
It was only some 18 months ago that there were riots in England. But the British prime minister, David Cameron, took charge and ensured that the police there took effective control by arresting thousands of rioters, with hundreds going straight from court to prison. The penalties were increased almost fourfold and the rioting promptly ceased.
While the concerns of the protestors must be addressed in other ways acceptable in a democracy, such as by dialogue with their politicians, tough, but not rough, policing and the rigour of the law are likewise needed in Belfast to put an end to the illegal street protests. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Ought not Dublin’s City Hall rather than the Dáil be the proper venue for the expected peaceful protest of the Orange Order this weekend? Perhaps Dublin City Council might well take the initiative and have the Union flag fly as a reciprocal courtesy on the days Belfast City Hall displays the Tricolour! — Yours, etc,
Sir, – I was wondering what would it take to put an end to the riots in Belfast when it suddenly came to me – a long cold rainy spell of weather!
One can but hope. – Yours, etc,