Marching Season's Begun.

There's never been an official start or end date to Northern Ireland's sectarian marching season. However I think we can safely say the 2011 season has started.

Last night (20/6/11) at around 21:00 BST rioting broke out between Protestants and Catholics in the Newtownards road area of east Belfast. In early reports the police are blaming the Protestant Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) for orchestrating the violence. Although both sides are reported to have used firearms only two people were wounded and both are believed to be Protestants. By Northern Ireland's standards this is barely news worthy and it's likely that there will be further outbreaks of violence leading up to an including the so called "Glorious Twelfth" on July 12th. Although the Rory McIlroy victory at the US golf open didn't help this slight upsurge in violence is no great surprise because the British state has spent the last three years inflaming sectarian division in the province.

In other news today (21/6/11) I telephoned Croydon Magistrate Court over this nuisance case. I was rewarded by being given a direct number meaning that I don't have to deal with the switchboard in future. Unfortunately the person at the end of this direct number was in a meeting all morning and I'm going to be food shopping all afternoon. I may call them tomorrow but I already know that the case is still sitting on the Clerk of the Courts desk waiting to be actioned.