Derry shut down for Apprentice Boys March
RUC attack on peaceful protesters sparks rioting in city centre
By Martha McClelland
ON one of the busiest shopping days of the year, the RUC closed
off Derry city centre from early Saturday morning to facilitate a
march by thousands of Apprentice Boys
Double rows of RUC Land Rovers blocked off all streets while a
`cordon sanitaire' was created for the Boys to march through the
Diamond. Workers were prevented from going to their work, and at
least one NUJ journalist was prevented from entering the sealed
area to report the news.
Many residents of the predominantly nationalist inner city spent
lengthy periods trying to get back to their homes with their
groceries and shopping.
11.00am Derry city centre was a ghost town. An eerie silence
descended. Frustrated local residents who tried to get in early
for the weekend shopping but were refused admittance into their
own town.
Meanwhile, in Shipquay Street, a full three hours before the
Apprentice Boys were due to march, RUC personnel in riot gear
were pushing back a small crowd of peaceful nationalist residents
from the top of the street and into Castle Street.
As the crowd appeared opposite the lower entrance to the Richmond
Centre, the steel shutters were shut down. Frightened shoppers
found themselves sealed into the building.
Squeals from outside could be heard as the RUC pushed people down
the street.
Pandemonium ensued. Mothers were separated from small children,
who screamed and panicked. Several older people had panic attacks
from the claustrophobic conditions. Shops shutand some staff
fled.
Security staff then began sweeping all the shoppers out through
the back entrance. Outside, buskers carrying guitar cases,
artisans selling jewellery and Big Issue vendors alike packed up
hurriedly and joined the flood of panic-stricken shoppers.
11.30am Those shoppers who had managed to get into the Richmond
Centre counted themselves lucky, but when about 25 tried to exit
the building at Ferryquay Street, a cordon of RUC with dogs
blocked their path. When a number insisted on their right to
leave, the RUC charged, with Alsatians. As the Manager hit the
button to close the steel shutters.several people tried to hold
them open. The people were trapped and the RUC freely allowed the
dogs on them.
12.00 noon Two `horse boxes' for carrying prisoners joined the
double rows of Land Rovers blocking Shipquay Street. People
taking refuge on the Derry Walls at Ferryquay Gate were re-routed
by baton-wielding RUC - a subtle message reinforced up by
snarling dogs.
In a sinister incident at Butcher Street an Irish News reporter
questioned the identity of a non-journalist allowed past the RUC
cordon to the Bogside. The RUC told the journalist that the man
was an `observer.' The man, who was shortly to be recognised as a
loyalist, proceeded to photograph nationalists at the cordon
until he was chased back by local residents.
1.30pm A number of young people managed to get onto the roof of
the Richmond centre and unfurled a banner calling for the RUC to
be disbanded.
2.00pm With a massive RUC presence on the ground and a helicopter
above, the Apprentice Boys began marching with their bands,
including the `Greyabbey Hardcore.' Not content with a Red Hand
on their Lambeg drum, theirs was portrayed dripping with blood.
As several hard-line bands appeared, three of them, including the
CCM 3rd Battalion UVF Band from Belfast, the Skeogh Flute Band
from Co Down, and the South Belfast Warriors, proved beyond the
control of Apprentice Boys stewards, playing provocative tunes
loudly. When senior Apprentice Boy Billy Moore tried to quieten
them, he was attacked and kicked on the ground. A photographer
was also attacked. An RUC woman, heavily padded in protective
gear, was led away overcome with fright.
Apprentice Boys were cautioned not to talk to journalists, but
one muttered `Blame those boys up on the roof' for the trouble -
a point that may seem lost on Billy Moore and the RUC woman as
they recover from their battering at the hands of the `Warriors'.
3 00pm A crowd had gathered at the outer cordon in Shipquay
Street. A British Telecom van and two Ulsterbuses had been
hijacked and used. as barriers to protect the crowd from being
rammed by RUC vehicles.
Sinn Féin personnel tried to keep matters calm but the anger
caused by the RUC shutting down the city and abusing shoppers
proved impossible to contain.
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