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A dissident republican parade in Londonderry turned violent as petrol bombers targeted police officers monitoring the event. Around 50 people in paramilitary-style outfits paraded from Creggan to Free Derry Corner in the Bogside, where several devices were thrown at the police stationed on the Derry Walls. Fireworks were also used in the attacks, leading to the closure of part of the city’s walls to the public. Two men, aged 30 and 55, were arrested by the police after the parade in connection with the violence.
The organizers of the parade had been instructed by the Parades Commission not to wear paramilitary-style clothing or display flags associated with proscribed organizations. However, many participants defied these rules, leading to the outbreak of disorder in the Nailors Row area. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) reported that petrol bombs, fireworks, and masonry were hurled, resulting in the closure of Bishop Street for public safety. Superintendent Gillian Kearney condemned the orchestrated disorder involving young people, calling it shameful criminal exploitation.
The National Republican Commemoration Committee, linked to the anti-agreement republican party Saoradh, organized the parade, which aimed to commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin. The police, who have previously associated Saoradh with the New IRA, had warned the participants to comply with their instructions. Last year, the event had been marred by violence when journalists were targeted by petrol bombers. The PSNI confiscated several items from a van following the parade, leading to the arrest of two individuals under the Terrorism Act. The parade had not taken place for three years prior to this incident due to past violent occurrences.
In a statement, Supt. Gillian Kearney expressed disappointment at the organizers’ failure to uphold the dignity of the event, highlighting the deliberate use of young individuals to mask the violent intentions of the masked culprits. The police emphasized the need for compliance with their directives to prevent similar incidents in the future. The Parades Commission recognized the historical association of criminal activities with the parade, further underscoring the need for strict adherence to guidelines to ensure public safety during such events
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