Loyalist Attacks Sept/Oct 2002 Short Strand

Published: 23 November, 2002

Sunday 1st September

2.30 p.m. Petrol bombs from Cluan Place into Clandeboye Drive. Ball bearings thrown from Albertbridge Road.
6.15 p.m. Upwards of 100 RIR and British Army enter Clandeboye and take up position at Mountpottinger Road.

Monday 2nd September

3.00 p.m. Workmen attacked on roofs of Clandeboye Drive with bricks, bottles and missiles from Cluan Place.
3.15 p.m. Bricks and bottles thrown into Clandeboye Drive from Cluan Place.
3.30 p.m. Device thrown over wall from Cluan Place into Clandeboye it was declared a hoax by A.T.O.
3.35 p.m. Police contacted on 999 to report device. They were again called at 3.55 p.m.
4.00 p.m. Irish Secretariat called Police.
4.15 p.m. Police respond only after being pushed into action by Irish Secretariat.
Sporadic stone throwing from Cluan Place into Clandeboye.
1.00 p.m. Fire works thrown into Clandeboye from Cluan Place.

Tuesday 3rd September

8.00 p.m. Ball bearings into Beechfield Street

Wednesday 4th September

1.30 a.m. Stone throwing into Beechfield Street and Madrid Street from Thistle Court.

Thursday 5th September

10.00 p.m. Known loyalist escorted from Mountpottinger Road.
11.10 p.m. Fireworks fired towards the arch from The Mount to Mountpottinger Road.
11.11 p.m. 10 loyalists stoned houses at the top of Albertbridge Road from Woodstock.

Friday 6th September

Up to 50 RIR / British Army in Clandeboye.
5.30 p.m. Clandeboye Gardens 6 RIR Jeeps & 2 PSNI until 1.30 a.m.
5.30 p.m. Clandeboye Drive 3 PSNI Jeeps until 1.30 a.m.
5.30 p.m. Mountpottinger Road 1 PSNI Jeep 2 Mobile PSNI until 1.30 a.m.
RIR soldiers use Clandeboye entry as an open toilet.
RIR soldiers indulge in sectarian verbal assaults against local people.
RIR soldiers also indulge in verbal sexual assault on local females some as young as13 years old.
RIR soldiers witnessed using camcorders & digital cameras whilst on duty.

Saturday 7th September

Up to 50 RIR / British Army in Clandeboye.
5.30 p.m. Clandeboye Gardens 6 RIR Jeeps & 2 PSNI until 1.30 a.m.
5.30 p.m. Clandeboye Drive 3 PSNI Jeeps until 1.30 a.m.
5.30 p.m. Mountpottinger Road 1 PSNI Jeep 2 Mobile PSNI until 1.30 a.m.
RIR soldiers use Clandeboye entry as an open toilet.
RIR soldiers indulge in sectarian verbal assaults against local people.
RIR soldiers also indulge in verbal sexual assault on local females some as young as13 years old.
RIR soldiers witnessed using camcorders & digital cameras whilst on duty.

Saturday 14th September

7.00 p.m. Loyalist stoned parishioners going into mass.

Sunday 15th September

11.45 a.m. Loyalist stone parishioners going into mass.
Fireworks intermittingly all day directed at chapel.
6.15 p.m. Heavy barrage of fireworks directed at chapel this continued until 6.45 p.m. PSNI sit by and did nothing.

Friday 20th September

Women including a pregnant girl was attacked with missiles while coming from the Chemist on Newtownards Road by men in the flats.

Saturday 21st September

6.40 p.m. Mass goers stoned by loyalist youths. Bricks, bottles and stones rained down on men, women and children. OAP's were overcome with the attacks. Police C.C.T.V's at the junction of Newtownards Road and Bryson Street had no deterrent effect on loyalist who continued for about 20 minutes. PSNI arrived around 7.00 p.m. in a landrover but did not get out of it. The loyalist went away at their own leisure.

Sunday 22nd September

9.30 a.m. - 12.oo a.m. Mass goers again attacked going into mass. This situation cannot be allowed to continue. Religions and Civil Liberties are being denied under these circumstances. Sometime on Sunday evening the Chapel (St.Matthew's) was attacked with paint bombs, destroying the newly cleaned and repaired stonework of the Chapel. A window in the Chapel was also broken and several paint bombs that didn't break were found lying at the front lawn of St.Matthew's.

Monday 23rd September

1.25 p.m. Throwing into Clandeboye, putting up new flags, assessor got fully - primed petrol bomb.

Wednesday 25th September

Marie Bells was attacked at Doctor's after coming out of Chemist with missiles thrown from the flats.

Saturday 28th September

St.Matthew's Chapel came under a sustained attacked of rocks, bottles and heavy fireworks from around 20-30 loyalist lasting 30 minutes. (6.30 p.m.-7.00 p.m.). Mass goers again were the targets. Such was the ferocity of the attack that the Parish Priest closed the front doors and directed the people into a side door. Again the PSNI C.C.T.V's at he junction of Newtownards Road and Bryson Street was useless in protecting the Catholic's going to mass. Later that night the Chapel grounds came under periodic attacks from the loyalist the PSNI arrived at the scene on several accessions but failed to disperse the loyalist mob. Through apathy, they eventually dispersed.

Sunday 29th September

At Approx 8.45 p.m. Chapel grounds came under attack from loyalist crowd throwing petrol bombs and rocks. They sat the hedge on fire, 20 minutes later the PSNI tried to extinguish the fire but the Fire Brigade was sent for, when they arrived they came under attack from loyalist mob. British Army provided cover for Fire Brigade, PSNI patrolled area in landrovers but failed to disperse crowd. They eventually went home out of sheer boredom.

Monday 30th September

6.30 p.m. Attacks on the Chapel continue unabated. Loyalists threw rocks, bottles and heavy fireworks into empty Chapel grounds over a period of 25-30 minutes and under the full gaze of CCTV at the junction of Newtownards Road and Bryson Street. When they seen they were getting no response they moved off.
9.40 p.m. 6 petrol bombs thrown at pensioner's bungalows on Strand Walk. Loyalists arrived in a car, launched their attack and drove off. Police CCTV failed miserably to prevent this attack and also failed to protect the OAP's who live in a constant state of fear. Local people helped the Fire Brigade to put the fires out.

Saturday 5th October

3.00 p.m. A wedding was attacked at St.Matthew's Chapel by a loyalist mob which gathered quickly when they seen the bride and groom coming out of the Chapel.
6.30 p.m. Mass goers at St.Matthew's attacked by loyalist mob. PSNI on mobil patrol played cat and mouse in between stone throwing incidents. This weekly attack of the 7.00 p.m. mass in St.Matthew's could easily be stopped if PSNI maintained a presence at junction of Bryson Street and Newtownards Road.

Sunday 6th October

Fireworks, stoning intermittently from early morning Cluan Place Thistle Court Bryson Street, interfaces at 1.15 p.m. till 2.00 p.m. Cluan Place restarts at 6.00 p.m. upwards of 40 drunken loyalists attacked Clandeboye with bricks, bottles, fireworks, petrol bombs thrown at houses in Clandeboye 10.00 p.m. this continued until 1.00 a.m.

Monday 7th October

Fireworks, stone's, bottles thrown intermittently from Cluan Place, Madrid Street, Thistle Court all day, PSNI & Army present.

Tuesday 8th October

Fireworks, stones, bottles thrown intermittently from Cluan Place all day, 6.00 p.m. PSNI & Army move into Clandeboye. Things intensified, bungalows in Clandeboye petrol bombs, stones, fireworks, bottles continued right through till 4.00 a.m. Wednesday, group of youths just circled the interface's all night attacking at well.

Wednesday 9th October

Fireworks from 8.00 a.m. Cluan Place, Madrid Street this went on most of the day.
6.00 p.m. PSNI & Army invade Madrid Street, Clandeboye, fireworks interface. PSNI assault two local youths while trying to video events.
7.30 p.m. crowd of loyalists gathered at Woodstock Road/Castlereagh Street/Mountpottinger Road they attempt to enter Short Strand, Clandeboye attacked continually from 8.30 till 9.30, also Madrid/Bryson Street, gang of loyalists tried to enter Bryson Street.
10.15 p.m. fireworks continued throughout the night around all interfaces.

Friday 11th October

Sporadic stone throwing through out the day at Madrid Street, Bryson Street and Clandeboye.
6.00 p.m. Large force of PSNI enter Clandeboye also RIR attacks continued RIR verbally abuse locals throughout the night.
10.15 p.m. Heavy bombardments from Cluan Place while Army & PSNI watch on. This continued until 12.30 a.m.
Sporadic firework throughout till about 5.30 a.m.

Saturday 12th October

Sporadic fireworks, stone's, bottles, paint bombs into Madrid Street & Clandeboye, petrol bombs.
1.30 p.m. from Cluan Place, stone throwing right through until 6.30 p.m.
PSNI & Army enter Clandeboye & Madrid Street in large amounts, fireworks & stone throwing continued, crowd of young loyalists youth attacked houses & broke window's on Albertbridge Road PSNI watched on, RIR abused local women when they complained.

Sunday 13th October

2.00 p.m. Heavy stone, bottles & fireworks from Cluan Place, continued till 3.00 p.m.
Sporadic stoning at Madrid Street & Clandeboye, PSNI & RIR move into Clandeboye at 3.00 p.m. in heavy numbers, all in full riot gear up to 30 jeeps, PSNI ask to reduce numbers they refused, throughout this time fireworks where coming from Cluan Place & Thistle Court.
10.00 p.m. Madrid Street came under a heavy attack for up to 20 mins, bricks and bottles. A 7 year-old child was taking to hospital with shock & asthma attack.
1.30 a.m. Large fireworks, bottles bricks where thrown for 10 mins at home's in Clandeboye Drive.
Intermittently through out the night bottles where thrown till about 4.00 a.m.

Monday 14th October

7.00 p.m. 2 large explosions happened at the back of Bryson Street/Mountforde Road junction causing damage to the rear of two houses on Bryson Street. These homes are occupied by young families who have been attacked so often that they are contemplating moving out of their homes. CCTV's cameras at both ends of Bryson Street failed to protect these people and their homes.

Tuesday 15th October

3.15 p.m. Fireworks, bricks, bottles and slates thrown into Clandeboye Drive from Cluan Place. Attacks lasted for over an hour.
5.00 p.m. Brick, bottles and fireworks thrown into Madrid Street from Thistle Court.
6.30 p.m. Bricks, bottles, bolts, ballbearings and fireworks thrown into Clandeboye Drive from Cluan Place.
6.50 p.m. 3 petrol bombs thrown at houses in Clandeboye from Cluan Place as well as bricks, bottles, bolts and fireworks.
1.55 a.m. Bricks, bottles, slates and large fireworks thrown at houses in Clandeboye from Cluan Place.
2.55 a.m. Bricks, bottles, slates and large fireworks thrown at houses in Clandeboye Gardens from Cluan Place.

Wednesday 16th October

Stones and bottles coming over the wall from Cluan Place into Clandeboye Drive. This went on from 2.00 p.m. until 4.00 p.m.
Approx 5.00 p.m. more stones and bottles from same vicinity also 3 petrol bombs from Cluan Place.

Thursday 17th October

11.00 a.m. Workmen erecting security fence fro INO stoned from Cluan Place. Workmen approached Army in Cluan Place and came under verbal abuse from residents in Cluan Place they told him he was passing information to Republicans and to get out. Workmen decided to pull off the job. PSNI patro arrived at 12.30 p.m. and interviewed workmen.

Tuesday 22nd October

6.30 p.m. Petrol bombs thrown from Cluan Place into Clandeboye. PSNI where present and where abusive to residents, when asked to contact the
Fire Brigade then told local residents who where hosing down homes that they where already doing a good job.
8.20 p.m. A large crowd of loyalist (30-40) stoned St.Matthew's Chapel. PSNI stood and watched the crowd knock down a wall, which they used to attack the Chapel.
9.20 p.m. Pipe bombs thrown at junction of Mountforde Road and Bryson Street from the loyalist area of Susan Street and over the newly heightened peace wall. The target of this attack were young boys kicking a ball at a gable end. Two of the young boys where wounded, as was a adult walking his dog, they all received hospital treatment. Feelings where running high at this unprovoked attack. When the PSNI eventually arrived they where very aggressive to the residents, calling them names, pushing and pulling them.

Wednesday 23rd October

5.00 p.m. 15 large fireworks thrown into Clandeboye from Cluan Place.
7.30 p.m. Up to 10 large fireworks into Strand walk from Lower Newtownards Road. CCTV at the junction of Bryson Street and Lower Newtownards Road failed to desist the mob.
8.00 p.m. At least 20 fireworks came into Madrid Street from Thistle Court. The presents of CCTV at the junction of Bryson Street and Madrid Street failed to desist the mob.
8.30 p.m. Bricks and a large number of fireworks thrown into Madrid Street from Thistle Court. CCTV failed to stop this.
9.00 p.m. More fireworks thrown into Clandeboye from Cluan Place.
12.00 a.m. 2 very large fireworks thrown into Clandeboye from Cluan Place.

Thursday 24th October

12.15 a.m. A very large firework thrown into Clandeboye from Cluan Place causing a considerable damage and scorch marks to a local residents car. A
community rep then made contact with Chris O'Halloran who told the community rep that a policeman in Strand Town called Kinkade said that the Police would have a presence in Cluan Place all night. When Chris O'Halloran got in touch with Strand Town again Kindade had finished his shift and someone else was in charge. The new cop then told him that no cops where in Cluan Place at all.
1.15 a.m. Large explosion in Madrid Street/Bryson Street area. CCTV failed to stop this.

Saturday 26th October

At around 10.30 a.m. fireworks where thrown from Cluan Place into Clandeboye Gardens this kept on to about 2.00 p.m., when a large amount of bricks and bottles where thrown into Clandeboye Gardens/Drive.
3.00 p.m. 10 petrol bombs where thrown at the houses in Clandeboye Drive, as people battled to put the fires out more fireworks and bottles where thrown at them.
An armed loyalist gunman got on top of the fence, people seen him and took cover no shots where fired.
The Fire Brigade was called to help fight the fires and when they arrived up to 10 more petrol bombs where thrown from Cluan Place into houses in Clandeboye Drive.
Things got worse with hundreds of golf balls, bricks and fireworks all being thrown from Cluan Place into Clandeboye Gardens/Drive. Things settled down at around 6.00 p.m. 8 members of a group of South based Trade Unions witnessed all of this.
More very large fireworks where thrown throughout the night into Clandeboye Gardens/Drive.

Monday 28th October

11.00 a.m. up to 10 fireworks and bricks where thrown from Newtownards Road into Strand Walk. CCTV at the junction of Newtownards Road/Bryson Street failed to stop this from happening.
At around 4.30 p.m. up to 20 very large fireworks where thrown from Cluan Place into Clandeboye Gardens and Clandeboye Drive they where followed up by a large amount of bricks, bottles and other missiles this attack lasted for about and hour and a half. During the attack a PSNI inspector entered Clandeboye Drive. Frank Brennan was in phone contact with Chris O'Halloran. Chris told Frank that the Police told him that stuff was being thrown from Clandeboye into Cluan Place, that attack stopped at about 6.00 p.m.
6.15 p.m. 10-15 very large fireworks where thrown into Madrid Street from Thistle Court. CCTV at the junction of Madrid Street/Bryson Street
failed to stop this.
At about 7.00 p.m. a large crowd of loyalist tried to enter the Short Strand by the Mountpottinger Road, they threw stones and bricks at houses this attack lasted for about 15-20 mins. The PSNI give chase to about 50 loyalists and arrested one of them. Fireworks where still being thrown from Cluan Place.
At 11.15 p.m. about 10 very large fireworks where thrown into Clandeboye gardens.

Tuesday 29th October

12.50 a.m. 2 large fireworks thrown from Cluan Place into Clandeboye.
7.45 a.m. Fireworks thrown into Clandeboye Drive from Cluan Place.
3.30 p.m. Youths throw bottles from Cluan Place into Clandeboye, this lasted for a short time.
4.30 p.m. Interface contact phoned claiming throwing was going on from both sides. Calm restored.
6.00 p.m. Gang of up to 25 loyalist youths led a sustained bottle, brick and firework attack on Clandeboye Drive and Gardens. Interface contact came into Short Strand at 7 p.m. and witnessed this. Interface contact contacted Inspector Graham of PSNI who came out and inspected 3 cuts in fence dividing Clandeboye and Cluan Place from which fireworks were being thrown into Clandeboye, during this inspection there was a short lull in the attacks.
Immediately after Graham left the attacks started again with more ferocity leading to petrol bombing of houses in Clandeboye Drive at 8.30 p.m. also pipe bomb attack in Clandeboye Gardens. PSNI phoned by resident of Clandeboye for help and was told that PSNI were being prevented by loyalist from getting into Cluan Place. Firemen were attacked with petrol bombs from Cluan Place while tending to fires at backs of housed in Clandeboye Drive. PSNI present in Clandeboye throughout these attacks.
Attacks continued throughout the night even while RIR were deployed in large numbers in Clandeboye Drive, attacks continued until 12.15 a.m.

Wednesday 30th October

2.15 a.m. 2 large fireworks thrown from Cluan Place into Clandeboye Drive.
4.30 p.m. A group of 10-15 loyalist youths attempted to enter Short Strand by Mountpottinger Road/Castlereagh Street throwing bricks and bottles. Interface contact made.
5 p.m. A group of loyalist youths again attempted to enter Short Strand by Mountpottinger Road/Castlereagh Street, they attacked a resident of
the Short Strand who was coming home from work with bricks and bottles.
5.30 p.m. A large convey of British Army arrived at Clandeboye arch/Mountpottinger Road and stayed there until 9 p.m.
6.30 p.m. Fireworks thrown from private flats in Langtry Way into Clandeboye Gardens.
6.30 p.m. Fireworks thrown from Thistle Court into Madrid Street sporadically throughout the night. Also continuously throughout the night from Susan Street into Bryson Street and Mountforde Road and sporadically from Newtownards Road into the Chapel grounds and Strand Walk area this continued until 1.00 a.m.

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Loyalist Attacks Sept/Oct 2002 Short Strand

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