Short Strand under Siege

Since Saturday May 11th the Catholic/nationalist community in the Short Strand, a small enclave situated on the edge of predominately Protestant/Unionist east Belfast, has been subjected to an organized, concerted and unrelenting campaign of sectarian violence and intimidation.


Just the other night a pensioners bungalow was attacked with petrol bombs setting the roof ablaze. But for the vigilance of local residents and a hose permanently connected to a water hydrant this bungalow could have been burned to the ground and its occupants killed. The hose connected to the hydrant is one of many in the area, put in place to quickly extinguish these almost nightly attacks.

This attack, like many similar to it, failed to be considered news worthy enough for the visual media and only constituted third item on the radio media.

Since the 11th May there have been over 100 pipe bombs thrown at residents and property within Short Strand and yet the RUC/PSNI have only declared two
crime scenes and consider the other 98+ pipe bombs unworthy of investigation.

The RUC/PSNI are not the only ones who have failed the people of Short Strand. The members of the press have let us down also. Their investigation into attacks have left a lot to be desired.

With a population of 3,000 and surrounded by a Unionist/Loyalist population of almost 90,000 one should find it totally unrealistic to think that these attacks are
being launched from Short Strand, but yet this is what the so-called free press is portraying.

A peaceful rally beside a mural painted to highlight the siege on this community was recently held within the area. Media presence at this rally was quite obvious to all the residents of this community to see. A short time into the rally masked Loyalists came through police and army lines on the edge of Short Strand and proceed to attack homes and residents with bricks, bottles and sticks and whatever else they had. The RUC/PSNI released a statement the next day admitting this breach of their security deigned to protect the people of this community.

Imagine the horror of the people of the Short Strand when they turned on their televisions and saw edited footage of the rally portraying them as the instigators as they repelled the attack on themselves by masked Loyalists.

One only has to look once at this footage to know who the perpetrators of the attack was. Not one nationalist had their faces masked and were picking up stones that were hitting them and throwing them back at the hundreds of MASKED LOYALISTS.

And if this wasn't enough, the RUC/PSNI, who clearly admitted that Loyalists attacked the Short Strand, turned their guns on nationalists protecting themselves and their homes.

A total of 9 plastic bullets were fired and 8 people were hit, all nationalists, and most of them in the upper body, contradicting clearly the government restrictions on
using plastic bullets.

This was the second instance when the RUC/PSNI fired indiscriminately at nationalists. On a previous date the RUC and British Army fired 16 plastic bullets and hit
6 nationalists. Compare this with a riot between Loyalists and the RUC/PSNI when loyalists actually shot at the police. The RUC/PSNI fired 60 plastic bullets and only one person was hit.

A question clearly arises asking why plastic bullets are more accurate and deadly when being fired at Nationalists? An answer we will no doubt NEVER receive as the RUC/PSNI continue to treat both sides of the community differently.

On The Following pages you can see the results of these blatant attempts to murder and injure residents of Short Strand.

Currently there are international observers in the Short Strand following the events occurring night and day in the area. Because of this the RUC had to declare a crime scene after a pipe bomb at the insistence of one of these such observers.

The people of this area need more people like these observers willing to come and see what is going on and hold the press and RUC/PSNI accountable for their actions as they do not care about the residents of this community or what happens to them.

As a consequence of all of the attacks on Short Strand, the community are denied access to essential services including Doctors, Chemist, Health Centre, Dentist, Post Office, Department of Social Services and supermarket. These amenities are all situated in Protestant/unionist areas.

Approximately 3,000 Catholics/nationalists live in the Short Strand area. The Protestant/unionist community of east Belfast is approximately 90,000. The Short Strand area contains 1 primary school, a chapel and a few small shops. Catholic secondary schools are all situated outside the area with the main catchment school being St. Joseph's College situated on the predominantly Protestant Ravenhill Road. Children from the Short Strand are bussed to
St. Joseph's College.

Bryson Street Doctor's surgery, one of the points being used as a cause of contention by loyalist protesters, is approximately 150 yards from the nearest Catholic/nationalist house and approximately 20 feet from the nearest street on the Newtonards Road. The Chemist, another point of contention, is actually situated on the loyalist Newtonards Road and is even further away from Catholic houses than is the Doctor's surgery. The only Post Office is situated on the loyalist side of Albertbridge Road.

Diary of events - Short Strand - Sat 11th May - (The attacks are still continuing)






Sat 11th May

11: 30 p.m. Loyalists gathered at Thistle Court/Madrid Street junction. Began stoning nationalist homes in Madrid Street.



Sun 12th May

12:38 a.m. Two pipe bombs thrown at nationalist homes in Madrid Street. PSNI arrived and took up position at junction of Bryson Street/Madrid Street, facing nationalists.



Nationalist residents remonstrated with PSNI. Sean 'Paud' Devenny, Chairperson of Belfast Sinn Fein and a resident of the Short Strand, attempted to calm the situation, reasoned with residents. PSNI baton charged nationalists. Paud Devenny was batoned repeatedly about the head resulting in 2 fractures to his skull with shards of bone embedded in his brain necessitating neurosurgery.

The above incidents were videoed and widely shown in the media


1:20 a.m. Blast bomb attack from Newtonards Road on pensioners' bungalows in Strand Walk.


Sporadic stone throwing incidents throughout the day in Madrid Street.


6:30 p.m. Loyalist mob carried out a sustained stone throwing attack on Nationalist homes in Madrid Street.


8:00 p.m. Houses in Madrid Street, Beechfield Street and Bryson Street were bombarded with ball bearings, marbles, golf balls and other missiles fired by loyalist youths using catapults from the roof of Beechfield Street Primary School.

PSNI watched as these attacks took place. As darkness fell PSNI shone Land Rover spotlights onto nationalist homes in Madrid Street.



Mon 13th May

7:30 p.m. Ball bearings, stones, marbles and fireworks fired into Madrid, Edgar, Bryson and Beechfield Streets from Thistle Court and Susan Street. Continuous attacks throughout the evening and night until approximately 4 :00am.



Tues 14th May

3: 30 p.m. PSNI and British Army flooded the Short Strand area and began raiding houses. Residents were placed under virtual curfew. The raids uncovered a small quantity of contraband cigarettes and an imitation firearm. Neither find warranted an arrest.


Residents, angered at the raids and the heavy-handed tactics of the PSNI and British Army, held peaceful but noisy protests outside the homes that were being raided. PSNI responded with plastic baton rounds. Situation deteriorated into a riot.


PSNI fired 5 plastic baton rounds and the British Army fired 11. Baton rounds seriously injured 6 people, including a photographer for the Irish News. Injuries included broken bones and a 16 year-old boy hit in the chest.

No raids were carried out in the loyalist areas from which the blast bomb attacks had emanated on the previous Saturday.


7:50pm. Loyalists gathered at Thistle Court, videoing residents on the Nationalist side of Madrid Street. Sporadic stone throwing from behind PSNI and British Army land rovers. Continued until 9.30 pm.



Wed 15th May

7:00 p.m. Masked men erected flags in Thistle Court.


9.30 pm. Loyalist stone throwing across Madrid Street.


10.45 pm Fireworks thrown at houses in Clandeboye Gdns followed by three blast bombs. 2 blast bombs hit a house in Clandeboye Gdns and the third landed on the roof of an empty house in Madrid St. setting fire to it.



Thurs 16th May

9.55 p.m. Stones and bottles were thrown from the Thistle Court into Madrid Street. Fireworks thrown at houses in Bryson Street. Bottles, bricks and marbles were also thrown. Continued until approximately I :00 a.m.



Fri 17th May

9:00- 11:00 p.m. Youths stoned houses in Bryson Street and Madrid Street from Thistle Court.


Sun 19th May

1 :00 p.m. Stones, bottles and bolts thrown into Madrid Street.



Mon 20th May

11 :00 a.m. Firework thrown from Thistle Court at workmen erecting 'security' gate in Madrid Street.


5:15 p.m. Stones and bottles thrown intermittently into Madrid Street.



Tues 21st May

9:00 p.m. Stones and bottles thrown at homes in Bryson Street and Madrid Street over newly erected 'security' gate. PSNI land rovers parked on both sides of the gate.


Wed 22nd May

9:40 p.m. youths attacked house in Madrid Street and Bryson Street from Thistle Court with bricks and golf balls.



Thurs 23rd May

1: 15 p.m. Stones thrown over the 'security' gate into nationalist side of Madrid Street.


5: 45 p.m. Paint-bomb thrown from Thistle Court into Bryson Street. Stones, slates and marbles thrown over the wall at nationalist homes.



Fri 31st May

4:00 p.m. Sporadic stone throwing from Cluan Place into Clandeboye Gdns.


6:00 p.m. Loyalists erecting flags on Newtonards Rd, using hydraulic lift, stoned children - two 6 year-olds, a 5 and a 2 year-old -in St. Matthew's Court.


A number of young nationalists retaliated. This precipitated a sustained and ferocious attack on Strand Walk, St. Matthews Court, Vulcan Court, Vulcan Gardens and Vulcan Street from loyalists who had gathered on the Newtonards Road. Two blast bombs, a number of petrol bombs and stones, bricks, bolts, ball bearings and golf balls were thrown across the 'security'
fencing. A number of gunshots were fired, directed at Strand Walk. This concerted attack continued into the early hours of Saturday morning.


Sat 1st June

12:00 a.m. Concentrated barrage of stones from Cluan Place into Clandeboye Gdns. Ball bearings, marbles and chrome nuts fired from catapults. Fireworks, petrol bombs, paint and 3 pipe bombs thrown from Cluan Place at five homes in Clandeboye Gdns. No forensic investigations were carried out by PSNI. Windows in rear of every house in Clandeboye Drive broken by missiles thrown from Cluan Place. Some homes petrol bombed.


3 :00 a.m. Heavy and prolonged barrage of rocks from Cluan Place. Lasted until approximately 4:30 a.m.


5:30 a.m. Sectarian band music played through speaker system in Cluan Place. Continued until 7:00 a. m.


2:00 p.m. Three women and a two-year-old child from the Short Strand were attacked on the Albertbridge Road while shopping.


5:00 p.m. Stones and ball bearings thrown at houses in Strand Walk from the Newtonards Road.


7:00 p. m. Stone thrown and a pipe bomb thrown into Clandeboye Gdns from Cluan Place. Heavy stoning and throwing of improvised fireworks, pipe and blast bombs continued throughout the night into the early hours of Sunday morning.


7:00 p.m. Stone throwing and ball bearings fired at people entering and leaving mass in St. Matthews Chapel.


Continuous barrage of ball bearings fired at Vulcan Street, Vulcan Gardens, Vulcan Close, St. Matthews Court and Strand Walk. Began around 8:00 pm and continued into the early hours of Sunday morning.



Sunday 2nd June

5 :00 p.m. Sustained, ferocious attack from Cluan Place into Clandeboye Gdns and Drive.


Petrol bombs, blast and pipe bombs, nail studded fireworks, stones, ball bearings, marbles and golf balls. Continued into early hours of Monday. PSNI faced nationalist residents in Clandeboye. No attempts made to stop the attacks emanating from loyalist Cluan Place. Attacks continued until dawn.


6:00 a.m. Rave music blasted through sound system in Cluan Place. Missiles thrown into Clandeboye Gdns from Cluan Place. Sporadic stoning incidents continued throughout the day.



Mon 3rd June

(Early hours of the morning) St. Anthony's Chapel, Willofield, petrol bombed.


12:30 p.m. pensioners' bungalows in Strand Walk petrol bombed from Newtonards Road.


3.30 pm. Sporadic stoning of houses in Clandeboye estate. House in Clandeboye Drive hit with both a nail and a petrol bomb setting the roof on fire. Acid bomb thrown at another house in the same street Early evening, loyalists held an impromptu band parade on the Albertbridge Road facing down to the Mountpottinger Road. Traffic was stopped in all directions. PSNI looked on.


5:30 p.m. Petrol bombs thrown into Clandeboye Gdns.


6:15 p.m. British Army and PSNI in riot gear entered Clandeboye estate while area was being stoned from Cluan Place. At the same time land rovers edged onto the Mountpottinger Road from the Albertbridge Road forcing residents down the Mountpottinger Road. PSNI land rovers parted and a female member, on foot, beckoned to a large crowd of loyalists’ -approximately 300 –behind their lines who then ran onto the Mountpottinger Road. Hand to hand fighting
ensued. Loyalists attacked a number of houses. Loyalist crowd was eventually driven back by residents. PSNI then trained plastic bullet guns on nationalists.


9:00 p.m. Gun attack on Strand Walk from Kennilworth Place. Approximately 20 shots were fired which penetrated the metal security fence fronting Strand Walk. Stones, ball bearings etc were being thrown continuously into Clandeboye estate from Cluan Place. This went on until the early hours of the morning. Late evening, loyalists rioted with PSNI and British Army on Newtonards Road. Blast bombs thrown at PSNI. Gunman opened fire. PSNI claimed to have shot the gunman who was dragged back into Kennilworth Place.



Wed 5th June

9:00 a.m. Loyalist women backed up by men wearing masks and baseball caps hold impromptu protest on the Newtonards Road/Bryson Street junction in full view of PSNI and British Army.


9:00 a.m. Masked loyalists congregate outside the Post Office on the Albertbridge Road. .


9:00 a.m. Catholic/nationalist health care workers arriving at work in Hollywood Arches Health Centre were told by their superiors not to return to work in loyalist areas of east Belfast for the foreseeable future as their lives are at risk. At the same time Catholic/nationalist 'Surestart' -childcare project workers -had to leave their offices on the Albertbridge Road because of loyalist pickets outside the building.


One nationalist woman assaulted in Bryson Street Doctor's surgery by loyalist protesters. Another woman returning home after receiving treatment for cancer, had her car attacked at the Newtonards Road/Bryson Street junction, forcing her to abandon the car and run into Short Strand area.


Nationalist woman and a pensioner attacked in Chemist on Newtonards Road. Both had to be taken out the back of the Chemist to escape protesters.


Pensioner, accompanied by his three-year-old grandchild, attacked in Post Office on the Albertbridge Road. Post Office closes.


10:10 a.m. Funeral mass for Jean O'Neill attacked by protesters on the Newtonards Road. Bricks, bottles, ball bearings thrown at chapel. Abuse hurled at mourners, people attacked after loyalists scale the fence around the chapel. Men wearing balaclavas, baseball caps and scarves prominent among protesters. All in full view of PSNI and British Army.


Stand off ensued between PSNI, British Army and loyalist protesters on Newtonards Road. Bus hijacked and used as barricade. Accompanied by a masked man, PUP MLA David Ervine is filmed by TV crew remonstrating with PSNI on the Newtonards Road.


That afternoon, professionally produced signs 'No nationalist or republican from the Short Strand welcome in loyalist East Belfast' appear on walls on Newtonards and Albertbridge Roads.


7:00 p.m. Stones and golf balls thrown into nationalist part of Madrid Street over the top of recently erected' security' gate at Thistle Court.


9:15 p.m. Fireworks and ball bearings launched over the wall from Susan Street into Bryson Street.

9:30 p.m. Gunman opens fire from roof of house in Susan Street at nationalist youths in Mountforde Road. Bullets enter houses in Comber Court and Seaforde Street and Seaforde Street Primary School.


Thurs 6th June

1: 30 a.m. PSNI call to the home of Short Strand resident to inform him that a serious threat has been made to his life. They have advised him not to return to his workplace in Ballybeen, east Belfast.


9:00 a.m. Loyalist picket on Doctor's surgery and Chemist Newtonards Road/Bryson Street junction. Masked men prominent. Nationalists prevented from attending Doctor's appointments again. A Short Strand woman was refused service in the Chemist's on the Newtonards Road. When pressed, the chemist told her that serving her was more than his
life was worth.


6:00 p.m. UDA, UVF and Red Hand of Ulster flags erected on chimneys of every house in Cluan Place.


Nationalist Bus driver from Short Strand hit with pellet from an air rifle while driving along Woodstock Link


8:00 p.m. until early hours of morning. Stones thrown, ball bearings and golf balls fired into Clandeboye estate


9:00 p.m. Two young men from the Short Strand stopped into a petrol station on Ravenhill Road. While one of the young men was paying for his petrol a car full of loyalists drew up and the occupants began shouting sectarian abuse. The nationalist’s car was pursued by the loyalists who tried to run them off the road.


10:00 p.m. -12:00 a.m. Loyalist tunes blasted over a speaker system in Cluan Place.


Fri 7th June.

1: 20 a.m. Pipe bomb and fireworks with nails attached thrown from Cluan Place into Clandeboye Gdns.


9:00 a.m. Loyalist picket on Doctor's surgery and Chemist Newtonards Road/Bryson Street junction. Nationalist pensioner attacked in Doctor's surgery.


9:30 a.m. Gunman spotted on rooftop of house in Susan Street, points shotgun at nationalist woman working in Bryson Community Enterprises. Bryson Street.


Graffiti appears on Ravenhill Road telling Short Strand people to stay off the road.


12:00 p.m. Attack on Belfast Institute Of Higher Education (BIFHE), Tower Street. Catholic students threatened and intimidated. One PSNI member tasked to investigate the incident. Lecturers evacuated the students. Instituted forced to close.


4:30 p.m. More flags erected in Cluan Place. House in Clandeboye stoned.

Witnessed by Women's Coalition member Monica McWilliams. All done in full view of PSNI.


7:00-10:00 p.m. Band parade around perimeter of Short Strand. Protest on Newtonards Road.


9:00 p.m. Stoning and ball bearings fired at homes in Madrid Street across 'security' gate


1: 30 a.m., loyalist band music played continuously in Cluan Place.




Sat 8th June

(Early hours of morning) St Patrick's Catholic Secondary School, Knock, set on fire.


10:00 a.m. Stones and bottles thrown from Cluan Place into Clandeboye estate. Sporadic stoning continued throughout the day.


11 :00 a.m. Loyalist protest on Newtonards Road.


12:30 p.m. Loyalist pipe band music played through speakers from Cluan Place into early hours of Sunday morning.


3:40 p.m. Firework thrown at houses in Strand Walk.


11 :00 p.m. Bonfire lit in Cluan Place.




Sun 9th June

2:00am PSNI approached by local community worker Frank Brennan and asked to stop the music from Cluan Place. PSNI members seemed to be drunk.


2:15 a.m. Music stopped. Firework thrown at Clandeboye Drive but failed to ignite.


2:30 a.m. Ball bearings and missiles thrown into Clandeboye Drive


2:40 a.m. 4 petrol bombs thrown into Clandeboye Drive. 2 houses set alight.


2:40 a.m. Houses in Madrid Street attacked with missiles thrown over the 'security' gate.


3 :05 a.m. Two shots fired into Clandeboye Drive

3: 15 a.m. 5 PSNI land rovers entered the nationalist half of Madrid Street and PSNI members stood in line facing nationalist residents.


3:25 a.m. Bonfire re-ignited in Cluan Place. Barrage of missiles thrown into Clandeboye Drive


3:30 a.m. Music and sectarian songs resumed from Cluan Place Missiles thrown continuously at Clandeboye Gdns and Drive.



Friday 14th June

Normal Mark Durkan visited the area whilst in Clandeboye he witnessed stones and bottles being thrown into the estate from Cluan Place. This continued into the early hours of the morning.



Saturday 15th June

Normal Ball bearing, stones, bricks and marbles thrown into Clandeboye from Cluan Place, this continued into the early hours of the morning.


Sunday 16th June

Normal At 6.30 a.m. a car containing a group of men drove down the Mountpottinger Road shouting sectarian abuse. Normal Stones, bricks and bottles thrown into Clandeboye from Cluan Place this continued all day into the early hours of the morning.


Monday 17th June

Flammable liquid thrown onto the roofs of the houses in Clandeboye Drive, the fire brigade were called to douse the roofs down they could not do this on one of the roofs because there is so much structural damage done to it they were afraid of the roof collapsing. There were also paint bombs, bricks and bottles thrown over all night into the early hours of the morning.


Tuesday 18th June

Sporadic stone, ball bearings and marbles thrown into Clandeboye estate.


Wednesday 19th June

At lunchtime fire works were thrown into Strand Walk this continued for about an hour. Stone throwing into Clandeboye from Cluan Place continued for most of the night.


Thursday 20th June

Stone throwing from Cluan Place into Clandeboye this continued into the early hours of the morning.


Friday 21st June

Stones, golf balls and bottles thrown into Clandeboye from Cluan Place this continued into the early hours of the morning.




Saturday 22nd June

Homes in Madrid Street attacked with bricks and bottles from 12 o’clock lunchtime the security camera was pointed right into Thistle Court. A RUC/PSNI jeep arrived between 7 – 8 p.m. and sat there while catholic homes were attacked. They left and the same jeep came back at 9.15 p.m. and again sat and watched whilst the homes in Madrid Street were attacked, they left
and drove into Thistle Court and then back into Madrid Street they stayed until 9.39 p.m. and then left.

Catholic homes in Clandeboye attacked with bricks and ball bearings from Cluan Place this continued into the early hours of the morning.


Sunday 23rd June

Homes in Madrid Street attacked from Thistle Court this continued for most of the day and night.

Homes in Clandeboye attacked from early evening until the early hours of the morning from Cluan Place.


Monday 24th June

Homes in Clandeboye attacked from Cluan Place from about 8 p.m. until the early hours of the morning.

Petrol bombs thrown into Madrid Street from Thistle Court at 3.30 a.m.



Tuesday 25th June

Homes in Madrid Street attacked from early afternoon until late into the evening from Thistle Court.

Man from the area threatened on Albertbridge Road and told not to go back on to the road.

Sporadic stone throwing into Clandeboye from Cluan Place. Army presence in Cluan place while this is happening due to security fence being erected.




Wednesday 26th June

· Persistent throwing of bottles and bolts into Madrid Street and Bryson Street from Thistle Court this started at 1p.m. and lasted until 8p.m.


Thursday 27th June

· Persistent throwing of bottles, stones and bolts from Cluan Place into Clandeboye.
· Persistent throwing of bolts, and stones from Thistle Court into Madrid Street and Bryson Street.


Friday 28th June

5pm Fireworks, bricks and marbles thrown from Cluan Place into Clandeboye.

10pm: Stones, bottles, bricks and fireworks thrown from Cluan Place until around 2.30 am.

2.30am: A barrage of bricks, bottles and fireworks then amongst them 3 pipe bombs thrown from Cluan Place into Clandeboye.


Saturday 29th June

1.25am: Bricks, bottles and fireworks thrown from Cluan Place into Clandeboye.


Sunday 30th June

3.00pm: Bricks, bottles, and stones thrown into Madrid Street from Thistle Court.


Monday 1st July

6.00pm: Golf balls thrown from Thistle Court into Madrid Street.

6.30pm: Massive Police and Military cordon around the Short Strand effectively sealing of all access in and out of the area, to facilitate an Orange Order March.


Tuesday 2nd July

3.30p.m. Windows broken on Albertbridge Road by catapult fired from a passing car.

9p.m. Ball bearings thrown from Thistle Court into Beechfield Street.

10p.m. Fireworks thrown from Cluan Place into Clandeboye.


Wednesday 3rd July

7.30p.m. Bricks thrown into Beechfield Street and Bryson Street this continued for most of the night.

10.15p.m. Ball bearings, bolts and marbles thrown from Newtonards Road into Vulcan Gardens, St. Matthew’s Court this lasted for about an hour. Windows broke in Strand Walk.

12.00a.m. A large firework was thrown into Clandeboye and about 5 minutes later a pipe bomb was thrown at the back of a house in Bryson Court, it hit the window and dropped into the back garden were it exploded breaking windows in the house and the house next door.


Thursday 4th July

Sporadic stone throwing into Clandeboye from Cluan Place.




Friday 5th July

12.30 p.m. Ball bearings fired from passing car at houses along the Albertbridge Road.



Saturday 6th July

Quiet



Sunday 7th July

Sporadic stone throwing over gate at Madrid Street.

Parade passed along Albertbridge Road, about 35 RUC jeeps and 40 brit jeeps parked at Kentucky.

4 petrol bombs thrown at bungalows at Strand Walk from Newtonards Road. Mediation Network confirmed this, UVF said it was only kids.

2 paint bombs thrown over wall in Bryson Street thrown from Susan Street.


Monday 8th July

Stone throwing over gate at Madrid Street, also bottles thrown throughout the day.

Two loyalists put up flags on railings at Cluan Place. Stone throwing from Cluan Place at 4p.m. then some golf balls within the next two hours.

A large firework was thrown into Clandeboye at approximately 10.30p.m. the rest of the night was relatively quiet.


Tuesday 9th July

Stone throwing intermittingly at Bryson Street/Madrid Street gate. Man seen climbing in window of empty house at back of Thistle Court at 11a.m.

Stone throwing from Cluan Place at 3p.m. this lasted for 5 minutes.

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