Rioters 'shame flag', says Villiers

Dec 11 2012

Loyalist rioters who wreaked chaos in Belfast over a dispute on flying the Union flag have only brought dishonour and shame to their cause, the UK Government said.

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers told the Commons there was nothing British about the "thuggish, lawless and despicable" behaviour that also saw a murder bid on a police woman and a death threat issued to East Belfast Alliance MP Naomi Long.

The Democratic Unionist Party said police have informed two of its senior elected representatives, and their family members, they have also been subject to death threats - though it is unclear whether they emanated from loyalists or republicans.

Disorder has broken out at loyalist protests organised against last week's vote by Belfast City Council to reduce the number of days the Union flag flies over City Hall.

Thirty-two police officers have been hurt and almost 40 people have been arrested in eight days of violence.

"No one can be in any doubt about this Government's support for the Union and its flag, but those people engaged in the kind of violence we have seen in the past few days are not defending the Union flag," said Mrs Villiers.

"There is nothing remotely British about what they are doing; they are dishonouring and shaming the flag of our country with their lawless and violent activities.

"They discredit the cause they claim to support."

She added: "There can be absolutely no excuse or justification for the kind of thuggishness and lawless behaviour; it is despicable, we condemn it unreservedly and it must stop immediately."

Despite calls from Westminster and across the political divide in Northern Ireland for an end to the demonstrations, fresh pickets were held in the south and north of the city.