It doesn't seem to be as bad as it was before the Good Friday Agreement, but it seems to be headed in that direction. Rioters In Northern Ireland Ignore Latest Pleas For Calm
It isn't just Portland that is burning.
The worst unrest of recent years in the UK-ruled province has mainly stemmed from its unionist community, angry over apparent economic dislocation due to Brexit and existing tensions with pro-Irish nationalist communities.
After Brexit, the UK instituted border controls at sea ports, which do a lot of trading with the rest of the UK, but not at the land border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland or Tuaisceart Éireann, which is officially a devolved constituent part of the United Kingdom.
A special "protocol" was agreed that shifted controls away from the Irish land border to ports trading with the UK mainland. It took effect on January 1, prompting many unionists to accuse London of betrayal by diluting Northern Ireland's status in the UK.
There was also recent outrage among unionists after the authorities decided not to prosecute nationalist Sinn Fein leaders for attending a large funeral last year of a former paramilitary leader, in apparent breach of Covid restrictions.
Here's a link to a song about the 1993 Warrington bombings, "Zombie" by The Bad Wolves; it was originally by The Cranberries.
A major part of the problem is the 24 Sinn Fein MLAs (the equivalent of Representatives)ignored Covid restrictions to attend the funeral of a terrorist in July. The Public Prosecution Service just recommended that none of them should be charged with breaking the restrictions.
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