A series of riots in loyalist areas of Northern Ireland began in Waterside, Derry, on 30 March 2021. After four nights of rioting in Derry, disturbances spread to south Belfast on 2 April, where a loyalist protest developed into a riot involving iron bars, bricks, masonry and petrol bombs. Following this, civil unrest spread to Newtownabbey on 3 April, where cars were hijacked and burnt, and petrol bombs were also used against police. Carrickfergus in southern County Antrim also saw serious civil unrest on the night of 4 April and morning of 5 April, where loyalists created roadblocks to keep police out of local estates and threw petrol bombs at police vehicles.
Background
The riots occurred within a background of tension within loyalism in Northern Ireland.
Irish Sea border
Loyalists and unionists argued that post-Brexit trading arrangements have created barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom, due to interference from the European Union. The Loyalist Communities Council, which represents paramilitary groups including the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Ulster Defence Association withdrew their support for the Good Friday Agreement (which brought to an end The Troubles) until the sea border is removed. A port worker in Larne was forced to relocate with his family after receiving a death threat from an unnamed loyalist paramilitary group.
Bobby Storey funeral
Tensions had also arisen earlier in the week after authorities decided not to prosecute 24 Sinn Féin politicians after they attended the funeral of former IRA head of intelligence Bobby Storey, which drew crowds of around 2,000 people, who allegedly breached COVID-19 restrictions. The main unionist parties, including First Minister Arlene Foster, called for the resignation of Simon Byrne, the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), claiming he had lost the confidence of the community. Foster had tweeted "Devastating outcome for public confidence in policing. There will be consequences".
Social issues
Other factors that contributed to the violence included the PSNI seizing illicit drugs from the South East Antrim UDA on several occasions, causing particular ill feeling towards the PSNI. Youth workers said the closure of youth centres because of COVID-19 restrictions had contributed to the trouble.
Riots
Waterside, Derry
The riots began in the unionist Tullyally estate. Petrol bombs and masonry were the main weapons used by rioters there and in the predominantly unionist Rossdowney Road/Lincoln Court area. Rioting took place outside nursing home in Nelson Drive, which police said caused "untold fear and distress" to residents. A digger was set alight as were pallets. Disorder continued on 4 April when children as young as twelve were involved in attacking the PSNI with masonry, petrol bombs and fireworks with fire crews also being attacked.
Twelve PSNI officers were wounded, receiving injuries to heads, legs or feet.
On 5 April, a gang of around 20 youths were seen at the site of a burning car in Sperrin Park.
Newtownabbey
Rioting broke out in the loyalist O'Neill Road / Doagh Road area of Newtownabbey during the evening of 3 April. The PSNI said 30 petrol bombs were thrown at police, and three vehicles were hijacked and set ablaze during the rioting. Minor disturbances resumed on 4 April although to a lesser extent than the previous night.
Carrickfergus, County Antrim
On the night of 4 April, Ulster loyalists began to gather on the North Road area of Carrickfergus, setting fire to bins and laying them across the road. When police arrived, items such as bricks and petrol bombs were used in an attempt by Ulster loyalists to injure police and keep them out of Carrickfergus estates.
On 5 April, a crowd of young people gathered in the North Road area of the town and lit a fire in the middle of the road. Witnesses said petrol bombs were thrown sporadically at police.
On 7 April, occupants of houses in Cherry Walk and Glenfield Walk fled the area after windows were smashed and the home of a pensioner on Pinewood Avenue was attacked. Local sources said the targets were chosen on the basis of rumours about the occupants or people connected to them. The UVF ordered that Catholic families be removed from a housing estate – it has been called a "form of 21st century ethnic cleansing".
Unauthorised parades
On 5 April, unauthorised parades of loyalists, some wearing masks, took place in Portadown, Ballymena and Markethill. The PSNI are investigating these parades as they appear not to have been notified to the Parades Commission.