Amid heightened tensions surrounding the Holy Cross dispute, rioting between rival Loyalist and Nationalists broke out in North Belfast on June 20th and 21st 2001.
At its peak, police came under attack from crowds of between 350 and 400 Loyalists at Glenbryn Park and around 200 Nationalists at Brompton Park.
The violence began shortly after 1pm on the afternoon of June 20th as police and community leaders from both sides were at a meeting in a bid to reduce tensions and avert trouble. Rival groups initially clashed at the sectarian interface between Twaddell Avenue and Brompton Park. Violence later broke out between Loyalists from Glenbryn and Nationalists from Alliance Avenue. Police were deployed to maintain 'sterile' areas to keep the rival factions apart at both locations.
By 9pm, police reported that the crowd of Loyalist protestors at Glenbryn numbered some 250 people. A gunman was also seen among the crowd and short time later six low velocity shots were heard in the area.
By 10pm the crowd at Glenbryn had grown to between 350 and 400 in number. Police came under sustained attack, and were targeted with stones, bricks, fireworks and paint and petrol bombs.
During the subsequent two hour period a hijacked car and forklift truck were driven towards police lines, and six officers were hurt when a blast bomb exploded between two Land Rovers. An ambulance was also targeted by petrol bombers, and a nearby house set alight when a petrol bomb landed on its roof. Police discharged a total of five baton rounds during these disturbances.
At around 12.20am several low velocity shots were heard in the Nationalist Alliance Avenue area and shortly after 1am police discharged another baton round at a protestor who, officers stated, was about to throw a brick at police lines.
Meanwhile, serious rioting had been ongoing at Twadell Avenue/Brompton Park from before 9pm. A crowd of about 200 Nationalist protestors had gathered in Brompton Park by 8.45pm, and during the next hour police lines were targeted with bombs, gas cylinders, scaffold poles, paving slabs and planks.
At 9.40pm a Police Inspector gave a warning to the crowd over a public address system that baton rounds would be discharged if the rioting did not cease. An officer then discharged two baton rounds at two men he stated were carrying large missiles. The officer said both rounds had struck their targets. Another officer discharged two baton rounds at one man he said was in the act of throwing a kerbstone. One round struck its target.
Police were also attacked by protestors on rooftops, who threw petrol bombs, stones and beer barrels at police units below. One baton round was discharged at a youth who police said was holding a lit petrol bomb. The round missed the youth, who went on to throw the petrol bomb at the police cordon.
Both interface areas were reported to be quiet by 2.45am, by which time a total of 39 officers had been injured. There was only one reported civilian casualty - a 15-year-old male who suffered bruising on his arm, which appeared consistent with having been struck by a baton round.
Members of the public made 11 complaints against the police as a result of the night's proceedings: none of these related to the discharge of baton rounds.
Outcome of Investigation:
The Police Ombudsman concluded that the police had been subjected to a violent, organised and pre-planned attack, and had demonstrated considerable restraint in their response. Mrs Nuala O'Loan said there was no evidence to suggest that the police's response was weighted against either the Nationalist or the Loyalist protestors.
She added that the discharge of baton rounds was fully justified and proportionate, as were the authorisation and directions given. The deployment and use of the baton rounds was also fully in accordance with the relevant RUC/PSNI and ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) guidance.