The Olympic Torch had to be rerouted slightly in Northern Ireland. Picture shows Denis Broderick holding the Flame on the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.

London 2012: Torch diverted because of protests in Northern Ireland

Tuesday, June 5, 2012
9:31 AM

The Olympic Torch had to be rerouted because of protests in Northern Ireland.

On day 17 the Flame travelled between Coleraine and Derry/Londonderry.

SDLP MLA Mark Durkan said minor scuffles with a group of people demonstrating against police raids on homes in Londonderry prompted the route switch near the city’s Guildhall.

Mr Durkan said: “We support anyone’s right to protest but that has been abused here today in Derry.

“People are just absolutely disgusted that there will be negative headlines for the city coming out of a great afternoon.

“It was not a massive detour, it had been coming down Custom House Street and then had to turn and go back around the Guildhall so you are talking 100 yards but it was not what was planned and that is pretty embarrassing.”

Mr Durkan said there had been an agreement not to disrupt the torch. The scuffle reportedly broke out when stewards and police intervened to push the crowd of around 100, half of them children, back.

A police spokeswoman said several dissident republicans were involved.

She said: “Due to a protest that took place at the rear of the Guildhall this afternoon, the torch was diverted past Guildhall Street on to Whittaker Street where it continued on to the Peace Bridge.”

One man was arrested and there were no injuries. The protest dispersed and was not related to the Torch.