1997 Northern Ireland riots

Common card · No. 483829

From 6 to 11 July 1997, there were mass protests, fierce riots, and gun battles in Irish nationalist districts of Northern Ireland. Irish nationalists/republicans, in some cases supported by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), attacked the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and British Army. The protests and violence were sparked by the decision to allow the Orange Order to march their traditional route, passing through a Catholic/nationalist neighbourhood of Portadown. Irish nationalists were outraged by the decision and by the RUC's aggressive treatment of those protesting against the march. There had been a bitter dispute over the march for many years. It was the last spell of widespread violence in Northern Ireland before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998. RUC and British Army patrols were attacked hundreds of times by rioters throwing stones and petrol bombs, and by IRA members with automatic rifles and hand grenades. They fired more than 2,500 plastic bullets...

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