NI Conservatives’ spokesman, Trevor Ringland, has condemned the violence which followed a debate on restricting flying the Union Flag outside Belfast City Hall and he called the political parties who created the row “reckless”.
“First of all, my thoughts are with the 18 people, police officers and security guards, who were injured during last night’s disruption”, Trevor commented. “What a small number of thugs thought they could achieve by attacking the PSNI and storming the City Hall is completely baffling. Hopefully they will now feel the full force of the law.”
“This argument over the Union Flag has been divisive and unnecessary from its outset. It was brought to fruition completely disregarding the results of a consultation. Those who initiated the action, motivated by political gain, were irresponsible to do so and those who used the issue to stir up emotions and mobilise protests, which ended in violence last night, could be considered reckless in their response.”
“None of the parties at City Hall has come out of this episode with credit, but the strongest condemnation must be reserved for the people who resorted to violence last night. The important task is now to pick up the pieces, repair relationships and continue building the Belfast we can all be proud of, which is the city the vast majority of its citizens recognise and want to live in.”