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The 2006 Dublin riots were a series of riots which occurred in Dublin on 25 February , 2006 , precipitated by a controversial Unionist demonstration which was due to march down O'Connell Street in the city. The disturbances began when members of An Garda Síochána , the Police force of the Republic Of Ireland , attempted to disperse a group of Irish Republican counter-demonstrators who were blocking the route of the proposed march on O'Connell Street . Local youths joined forces with the counter-demonstrators, ensuring that the situation was worse than the Gardaí had prepared for. BACKGROUND Love Ulster is a Unionist organisation dedicated to commemorating the Unionist victims of The Troubles in Northern Ireland . This was organised in part by Willie Frazer of Families Acting For Innocent Relatives (FAIR). This is a group established to voice outrage at the killings by the Republican paramilitary organisations, but it has been criticised for not doing the same for victims of 2006 (subscription required) An example of this alleged attitude is the previous displaying of the picture of an Ulster Volunteer Force member who was allegedly involved, among others, in the murder of 26 people in Dublin in the 1974 Dublin And Monaghan Bombings , and who was himself murdered by the Provisional IRA in 1976. His picture had appeared at FAIR rallies and an organiser of the Love Ulster demonstration previously told a republican newspaper that he would not guarantee that images of the murder suspect would not be displayed during the demonstration. Loyalists may carry Dublin bomber pictures , Daily Ireland The Love Ulster march in Dublin was to consist of a uniformed band, several hundred activists (including some from the Orange Order ) and relatives of victims, all of whom would march from Parnell Street north of the River Liffey , down O'Connell Street, past Trinity College onto Nassau Street, Dawson Street and Molesworth Street, and eventually reaching Leinster House , the seat of the Oireachtas (the Irish parliament), on Kildare Street. The march of this group in Dublin, the capital of the Republic Of Ireland , was viewed as provocative by many Irish Nationalists and Irish Republicans . The right to march was supported by the main Irish political parties and the march was authorised by the Garda Síochána . Love Ulster had organised a similar rally in Belfast in October 2005. THE RIOT Although Sinn Féin , the largest Irish Republican political party associated with Physical Force Irish Republicanism , did not organise a protest and said that the march should be allowed to go ahead, Republican Sinn Féin , a more radical group which broke away from Sinn Féin in 1986, had an organised presence. Their protest blocked the north eastern junction of O'Connell Street and Parnell Street. The small Republican Sinn Féin group were joined by several hundred local youths, many covering their faces with scarves. Before the violence broke out, they chanted slogans such as "The I, The I, The IRA" and others that related to the Continuity IRA . Several thousand bystanders were also on the scene, but took no part in the subsequent rioting. When gardaí attempted to disperse the protest at around 12.45, the protesters began to attack the gardaí. Stones and metal railings – to be used for renovation work on O'Connell Street – were thrown at gardaí, as were fireworks, bricks and other missiles. Some rioters had brought stocks of bottles with them as ammunition. Several barricades were constructed from building materials on the street to impede the march and the gardaí. The march was due to start at 12.30, but as the violence went on the gardaí decided against trying to escort the marchers through O'Connell Street, and at about 13.30 the assembled marchers returned to the coaches that had brought them to Dublin from , County Louth , an alleged nationalist/republican stronghold. Violence continued sporadically on O'Connell Street for another hour or so. Several Gardaí, protesters and a number of journalists from RTÉ and TV3 were injured. RTÉ's chief news correspondent, Charlie Bird was kicked and punched while being called an "Orange bastard" before being rescued by the Garda Special Branch officers. A woman who was five months pregnant was punched in the stomach. The woman later sent a text message to NewsTalk 106 to thank the Gardaí and ambulance service who looked after her after the incident. Also, one or possibly two Petrol Bomb s were thrown at Gardai . In addition, the windows of several businesses, including Foot Locker , Schuh, and Ulster Bank near O'Connell Bridge, were smashed and at least one shop was looted. While the stand off on O'Connell Street was still going on, several hundred rioters followed the Unionist coaches to the Nassau Street area where they set alight a number of cars and damaged several businesses. The headquarters of the Progressive Democrats party on South Frederick Street off Nassau Street was attacked. Further skirmishes broke out at O'Connell Bridge, Aston Quay, Fleet Street and Temple Bar , before the rioters dispersed. The most serious property damage was in the Nassau Street area, where three cars were burnt out, windscreens were smashed, and businesses had their windows broken. Many people also became trapped in shops and restaurants, including branches of McDonald's and Burger King . The gardaí then closed O'Connell Street to facilitate a clean up of the scene by building workers. Media reports have estimated the cost of the clean up job at €50,000, and Dublin Chamber of Commerce placed loss of earnings for businesses in the city due to the riots at €10,000,000. Dissident republicans blamed for planning Dublin violence - The Irish Times (subscription required) Estimates for the number of Unionist marchers before the event were predicted to be over 1,000. However only three coach loads turned up in Dublin, indicating a far smaller number, in the region of 300. Estimates for the number of counter-demonstrators vary between 300 and 7,000. The number is made much more difficult to determine by the presence of the several thousand bystanders at the scene who did not take part. Most of the rioters appeared to be local youths, though some who brandished leaflets and other political literature were clearly political activists. Republican Sinn Féin have issued a statement condemning what they said was an "underestimate of the true level of opposition to the march by the Irish government." INJURIES A total of 14 people, including six gardaí and a small number of journalists and photographers, were hospitalised as a result of the rioting. A further 41 people were arrested, according to RTÉ news. As of 27 February , 13 had been charged. RTÉ reports 13 arrests OFFICIAL CONDEMNATION Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern condemned the riots, saying, "It is the essence of Irish democracy and republicanism that people are allowed to express their views freely and in a peaceful manner. People who wantonly attack Gardaí and property have no respect for their fellow citizens." Minister for Justice Michael McDowell , opposition leaders Enda Kenny of Fine Gael and Pat Rabbitte of the Irish Labour Party and Sinn Féin Dublin TD Sean Crowe also condemned the day's events. Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams added his voice to the condemnation, saying, "There is no justification for what happened this afternoon in Dublin. Sinn Féin had appealed to people to ignore this loyalist parade and not to be provoked by it. Our view was that it should not be opposed in any way and we made that clear. Regrettably a small, unrepresentative group chose to ignore our appeal." The President Of Ireland , Mary McAleese , also condemned the rioters. Jeffrey Donaldson of the Democratic Unionist Party , who was in Dublin to address the Love Ulster march, said he was 'appalled' by the violence. Officers injured in Dublin riot - BBC Mary Harney leader of the government coalition member Progressive Democrats party, whose offices were attacked by rioters said, "I don't have much respect for the Orange Order, because it is a sectarian, bigoted organisation, but I do respect people's right to march... I think that they have got a great coup in being prevented from marching. Those that sought to stop them have played right into their hands." IOL, Harney - Rioters played into Orange hands O'Connell Street was closed off while the disturbances were occurring and afterwards for the clean-up operation but was re-opened later in the evening, although the majority of local businesses remained closed for the rest of the day. REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
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