1972: Protestant march ends in battle

A Protestant march against the creation of "no-go" areas in Londonderry has ended in a bloody battle on the Craigavon Bridge.

Soldiers used rubber bullets and water cannon to control the crowd when the so-called "Tartan gangs" at the tail end of the march began to throw bottles and stones at the Army.

The bridge was the centre of the trouble as it joins the Protestant side of the town to the "no-go" Roman Catholic areas of Bogside and Creggan.

Despite pleas from march organisers for the violence to stop it did not end until the Ulster Defence Association stepped in. They formed a human barrier between the protesters and the Army.

The confrontation lasted an hour and resulted in one man being injured but no arrests.

We are no longer protesting - we are demanding action
William Craig, Vanguard Movement

A spokesman for the Army said: "Naturally it is regretted that we have to fire rubber bullets but there we are. The only alternative is the Bogside would be invaded by the Protestant marchers."

The biggest security operation since the start of the Troubles had been set up for the march with soldiers on every corner.

Despite the violence William Craig the leader of the Vanguard Movement, who organised the march, said the marches would go on.

"We are no longer protesting - we are demanding action" he said.

The 10,000 strong march set off from Irish Street at 1500GMT to call for an end to the 'no-go' areas on the east bank side of the River Foyle.

Source: BBC