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Original poster

NI riots

13 replies

Dreamer202 · 08/04/2021 23:40

Good evening, I feel in such a panic tonight I don’t know what to do with this energy. Grateful just to chat / sorry for the ramble. I relocated back to N.Ireland last year with my family.

It has been a strange transition with Covid but now watching the tensions and conflict has me questioning if I have done the right thing. It was a risk to move back and now I am a bit dazed thinking I made the wrong decision. The violence from last night has put me on edge. I had been keeping track of the unrest over the last week but seeing the scale of the riot last night really frightened me – I feel sick thinking about it, I couldn’t sleep last night worrying and feel a bit numb. The kids rioting looked so young. It took me right back to childhood memories pre 1994 and I do not want such memories for my children. Even tonight I am sat here listening for sirens and working myself into another panic. Why can people not just live in peace? The pandemic is hard enough to cope with without having to worry about riots.

I am worried I have brought my children back to this - I really though these days were behind. I remember reading a tweet by Patrick Kielty years ago about the impact of any possible borders due to Brexit and thinking it was rather pessimistic – rereading it now today he had predicted this! When I was in England and researching moving back I was detached from the impact of Brexit here and naively thought the issue would work out. I think unless you are in NI it is just so hard to understand the tension. The more I have googled today it is really apparent that the government have no regard for NI or care about the exceptionally fragile peace here. One article quotes Rabb boasting he has not actually read the Good Friday Agreement when Brexit Secretary! I can not see a proactive approach to addressing the trouble here from the PM and doubt he understands it or even cares if there are riots on the streets of NI. I actually think his only worry is ensuring minimal reporting of this given the lack of coverage and minimizing the scale of the trouble. He does not want any bad Brexit press.

The violence seems to have escalated again tonight .. now police are deploying water cannons at the rioting. I can't understand why they haven't done this for the last 6 nights? What does this mean? Is anyone else NI based and worried? I know I should stop going on twitter and googling as my anxiety is off the scale but is it better to know what is going on than not?

OP posts:
Cocolapew · 08/04/2021 23:46

Are you close to the riot areas? I can't understand why the police seem loath to use the water canons, they should be out the minute someone throws a petrol bomb.

Bishbashbosh101 · 08/04/2021 23:51

Are you in a safe area right now? Can you see flames, hear unrest, smell smoke?

If you can't, then you are safe and that's everything.

I can't pretend it's not concerning but let's wait and see if Stormont, having finally taken notice, are able to calm things down.

Bishbashbosh101 · 08/04/2021 23:53

PSNI are loathe to be seen to clamp down too harshly because they're in trouble with loyalists for not intervening in a nationalist funeral where Covid restrictions weren't observed. Being authoritarian now would inflame tensions further.

SlatternIsMyMiddleName · 08/04/2021 23:58

Unless you are close to the rioting I wouldn’t worry too much.

Original poster
Dreamer202 · 09/04/2021 00:04

Yes I am safe - not too close thankfully. I cant get over the ages of the youths rioting - it is such a sad situation. I really hope Stormount have an impact in calming the tensions.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dreamer202 · 09/04/2021 00:07

And thank you all for the replies I really do appreciate them. My DP is away for work at the minute and my anxiety is hard to manage this week. You have helped me calm down!

OP posts:
Cocolapew · 09/04/2021 00:11

There's a lot of false information during the rounds as well, best to stay off social media (except MN Grin)

devastating · 09/04/2021 08:10

Can someone please explain why the riots are happening? The article I read said that there were different possible causes and disagreement over which was behind the current unrest.

I totally agree that Boris Johnson cares mainly about what is highlighted by the press and therefore affects his poll ratings.

Quincie · 09/04/2021 08:21

You'd think parents could keep their kids at home.
Supposed opposing religious beliefs - not much Christian love in any of them.
Excuse rant but it really riles me.

SlatternIsMyMiddleName · 09/04/2021 08:22

Well, apart from the many years of history, the 2 main issues that have kicked off the current unrest are 1. The Bobby Storey funeral (and the official reaction thereto) and 2. The Irish Sea border (which is really the way NI has been utterly shafted by Brexit).

As usual with my dear country, it’s not that simple, but those are the 2 current main issues.

Quincie · 09/04/2021 08:25

The Irish Sea border (which is really the way NI has been utterly shafted by Brexit).

I can see that having teh powers that be decide that there cannot possibly be an NI/Irish border because of a risk of troubles then forcing an Irish Sea border on Norther Ireland is very goady.

Perhaps this will be a negotiating option to get the EU to open up to UK exports.

Bishbashbosh101 · 09/04/2021 08:49

Perhaps this will be a negotiating option to get the EU to open up to UK exports.

This has been discussed for five years now. It's not a possibility.

devastating · 09/04/2021 08:50

Thank you Slattern and Quincie.

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