More than 3,000 police officers were on duty at Orange Order parades across Northern
Ireland on Monday. Nearly half of them were members of public order units, commonly
referred to as riot police, and deployed to combat violence. The greatest concentration
was in Belfast (1,800 officers). The Orange lodges and accompanying bands were returning
from parades across Belfast to commemorate the victory of the Protestant King William III
at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Then trouble erupted at 19:30 and escalated after a
car struck several pedestrians. Nine police officers were hurt and a 16-year-old girl was
struck by an out-of-control car at Belfast parade flashpoints. The violence followed a
day of largely peaceful 12 July loyal order parades. First Minister Peter Robinson said,
‘It is vital that those involved in such riotous activity cease and are held accountable.
They do a massive disservice to the wider cause they claim to support.’