Violence follows peaceful parade

Apprentice Boys held their largest parade of the year

The main Apprentice Boys parade has passed through the centre of Londonderry without major incident.

A petrol bomb was thrown at police in Fahan Street, stone-throwing took place at Butcher Gate, and petrol bombs were found in the Fahan Street area.

There were six arrests for public order offences as up to 10,000 members of the Loyal Order and 130 bands took part.

Later there were three arrests for riotous behaviour and a petrol bomb missed a tour bus of Italian visitors.

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The parade followed separate trouble in Derry on Friday night when 50 petrol bombs were thrown at police.

The parade celebrates the the actions of Protestant Apprentice Boys who shut the city gates against the forces of the Catholic King James in December 1688.

King James laid siege to the city from until the Protestant forces of Prince William of Orange relieved the city in August 1689.

The Apprentice Boys and the Nationalist Bogside Residents' Group had appealed for trouble-makers to stay away from the parade.

Leading Apprentice Boy William Hay said: "I am pleased that there has been relatively little trouble."

Derry City Council mayor Helen Quigley, of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, said the few skirmishes with police were "nothing abnormal".

Two stolen cars, one of which was hijacked, were burnt out

Police said they were pleased the main parade was peaceful.

Superintendent David Hanna said: "It shows that the work that has been done, with all people involved, in working towards a resolution in relation to the Apprentice Boys parade, that the hard work is paying off."

The arrests for riotous behaviour took place in the Butcher Gate area and were unconnected with the march.

The Italian tourists were taken to the Tower Hotel and were said to be safe and well.