Tensions rise as rival protesters gather over Palestine flag controversy

Rival protesters have been involved in angry exchanges outside Belfast City Hall amid a controversy over the flying of a Palestinian flag from the landmark building.

One man aged in his late teens was arrested on suspicion of disorderly behaviour during the incident, which unfolded close to the Christmas market currently operating on the grounds of City Hall.

The flag had been erected on the building shortly after midnight on Tuesday and was removed at dusk.

Its flying came after the council passed a motion to raise the flag in a gesture of support for the people of Palestine.

On Tuesday afternoon a judge rejected a legal bid to have the flag taken down earlier than its scheduled removal time.

A group protesting against the flying of the flag gathered at City Hall around 5.30pm.

Officers said the protest was peaceful but they said at 6.30pm another group arrived and began to “antagonise protesters”.

A second man, aged in his 40s, was also arrested on suspicion of disorderly behaviour at the scene but police said that was unconnected to any of the protest-related activity.

“An evidence-gathering operation is in place and in due course we will review the footage gathered and consider any further potential offences,” the PSNI said.

“The right to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are fundamental human rights which are protected in law and allow individuals to engage in peaceful protest.

“However, these rights are limited by the need to uphold the rights of others, protect public health and safety, minimise disruption to normal life and by the need to prevent and detect crime.”

The earlier legal bid was made by TUV member Ann McClure, with judge Mr Justice Michael Humphreys hearing arguments at Belfast High Court.

During a protest held outside the court buildings as the case was being heard, a 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of disorderly behaviour.

Ms McClure had sought an interim injunction that would have required the flag to be taken down earlier than scheduled pending a fuller court hearing on whether the council followed correct procedures in the vote.

She said the vote should have required a qualified majority, requiring 80% of councillors to approve a decision, rather than a straight majority.

A Sinn Fein motion to raise the flag was passed by 32 votes to 28 on Monday evening.

The council voted by a larger majority last month to fly the flag on City Hall on November 29 to mark the UN international day of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

However, that did not occur after the council received legal advice following a unionist move to initiate a call-in mechanism for the proposal to be reconsidered.

Delivering his ruling on interim relief on Tuesday afternoon, Justice Humphreys made clear he was not adjudicating on the substantive legal arguments around whether the council had followed proper procedures around the call-in.

He said he was instead focused on the application for the flag to be taken down pending the fuller hearing.

The applicant also sought to prevent the council interpreting a call-in in a similar way until the matter is resolved in the courts.

Justice Humphreys said he had to balance the “danger” of the courts “usurping” the council’s ability to make decisions against any potential harm or prejudice caused to the applicant by the flag flying.

The judge noted that Ms McClure was on holiday and questioned how the flying of a flag in Belfast could therefore offend her.

He also said there was no substantiated evidence to show the council’s continued use of its call-in procedure would cause her harm.

Justice Humphreys said he came down “firmly in favour” of the decision-making council.

“The application for interim relief is therefore refused both in relation to the continued flying of the flag at Belfast City Hall and also more broadly into the use by the city council of its current procedures in respect of the call-in procedure,” he said.

The wider case is set to be heard by another judge.

The next hearing is listed for Friday.

During Monday’s council meeting, an Alliance Party amendment proposing illuminating the City Hall in the colours of Palestine in January instead of raising the flag was defeated by 49 votes to 11.

While Sinn Fein welcomed the outcome of the vote to fly the flag, unionists expressed anger.

The DUP and TUV accused the council of an abuse of process.