'Leave the flag alone' - Simon Harris condemns Irish flags and 'Coolock says no' banners at Belfast protests
There were violent scenes in Belfast at the weekends as anti-immigration protests continued across the UK following the killing of three young schoolgirls in Southport, Merseyside, last week
Taoiseach Simon Harris has condemned protestors travelling to Belfast with “Coolock says no” banners and “Irish flags” for “hijacking” the items and misrepresenting the community.
There were violent scenes in Belfast at the weekends, while anti-immigration protests continued across the UK following the killing of three young schoolgirls in Southport, Merseyside, last week. Police confirmed that the suspect was born in Britain to Rwandan parents. However, misinformation spread online has led to violent clashes between protestors and police.
At a protest in Belfast last weekend, pictures showed Irish tricolours at the anti-Islamic protest. Some carried banners that read “Coolock says no”. It follows protests opposing asylum seeker accommodation at the site of the Crown Paint factory in Coolock in recent weeks.
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Asked about the presence of tricolours carried by people who appear to have travelled to Belfast from Dublin to protest, Mr Harris said that it was the “exact opposite of patriotism”.
He said: “Anybody who travels anywhere and thinks they should take the Irish flag with them and stand alongside potentially paramilitary actors in Northern Ireland shouting racist abuse, threatening people and, indeed, being, at the very least, in proximity to buildings that were set on fire, is the exact opposite of what the definition of patriotism should be.
“They are people who bring shame to their community. They're not reflective of the Coolock community. How dare they hijack our flag and the name Coolock when really what they are is people who are agitating and advocating racism [and] division. We should call it out.”
He continued: “If you intend to travel from our jurisdiction to commit a crime in another jurisdiction, you too will meet the full rigours of the law. Leave the flag alone. Leave the name Coolock alone. Those racist horrific scenes that we have seen in recent days should be called out for what they are.”
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