Sinn Féin IRA protest against Allied Troops' homecoming

November 2, 2008: Dozens of Provisional Sinn Féin IRA convicted criminals took to the streets of Belfast today, to protest against the homecoming of the Royal Irish Regiment, who have served so valiantly alongside US Troops in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo. Many of the despicable Sinn Féin IRA fascists chanted anti-US slogans, and burned a number of British and American flags.

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The homecoming parade, for the British Army returning from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo passed off peacefully. Thousands of proud Northern Ireland (Ulster) Protestants, many waving American and British/Ulster flags, cheered as the parade made it's way through Belfast city centre. Eyewitnesses estimated that there were 80,000 people at the event, showing their support for the allied troops' war effort. Several thousand people proudly walked down the Protestant Shankill Road, with banners welcoming the soldiers home.

Assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay said there had been just one arrest so far - a 16-year-old youth. However, ACC Finlay said officers were "continuing to look at video evidence". About 500 members of the armed forces took part in the main parade, including soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment, Irish Guards, Royal Dragoon Guards and the Territorial Army.

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Provisional Sinn Féin IRA protesters took part in a demonstration against the British Army's support for the US Troops. This assembled at Dunville Park in west Belfast and made it's way to the city centre, close to where the forces parade was taking place. A smaller republican counter parade was stopped by police. At one point, Provisional Sinn Féin IRA protesters and supporters of the parade were less than 100m apart.

There were brief skirmishes, however, police moved in to restore calm. Police stopped a separate dissident republican counter parade from marching into the centre of Belfast at the bottom of the Falls Road. They dispersed after a number of anti-British and anti-American speeches were made.

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To view a short video clip of the Troops' victorious return home, please click on the following link:

BRITISH ARMY RETURN HOME TO BELFAST

For The Fallen - Laurence Binyon

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

sinn fein irish republican army fianna fail fine gael UUP DUP PUP ulster unionist paisley derry londonderry belfast armagh antrim down fermanagh tyrone portadown lisburn newry coleraine SF dundalk sligo dublin limerick cork galway athlone monaghan bobby sands joe cahill gerry adams martin mcguinness gerry kelly martin ferris PIRA

sinn fein irish republican army fianna fail fine gael UUP DUP PUP ulster unionist paisley derry londonderry belfast armagh antrim down fermanagh tyrone portadown lisburn newry coleraine SF dundalk sligo dublin limerick cork galway athlone monaghan bobby sands joe cahill gerry adams martin mcguinness gerry kelly martin ferris PIRA

sinn fein irish republican army fianna fail fine gael UUP DUP PUP ulster unionist paisley derry londonderry belfast armagh antrim down fermanagh tyrone portadown lisburn newry coleraine SF dundalk sligo dublin limerick cork galway athlone monaghan bobby sands joe cahill gerry adams martin mcguinness gerry kelly martin ferris PIRA