12 Police Hurt as Ulster Protestants Mark 1690 Battle

BELFAST, Northern Ireland — About 100,000 Protestants took to the streets of Northern Ireland on Friday to mark the 301st anniversary of a Protestant victory over Roman Catholics in the Battle of the Boyne.

The marches followed a night of clashes across the British province. Twelve police officers were injured when Protestants rioted, hurling gasoline bombs, bottles and stones at security forces.

Police fired plastic bullets to disperse crowds in Belfast where eight officers were injured by gasoline bombs, police said.

In Garvagh, County Londonderry, four officers were injured trying to stop 250 protesting youths.

Northern Ireland echoed to the sound of pipe and drum bands at 19 parades marking the anniversary of the 1690 battle in which British King William of Orange, a Protestant, defeated Britain’s last Catholic King, James II.

Many Catholic families, resenting what they regard as a show of arrogance by Protestants who outnumber them here 2 to 1, take their summer holidays to coincide with the celebrations.

Fears of violence in predominantly Catholic Pomeroy were quelled when Protestant Orangemen decided at the last moment to alter their parade route to avoid nationalist housing projects in the County Tyrone town.

This year’s marches follow the collapse this month of the first face-to-face talks between Catholic and Protestant politicians in 16 years.