The Twelfth proves Northern Ireland is already treated different to Britain – so why stop with Brexit?

If no one cares about our troubles now, why would they care when we’re faced with a hard border?

Last night in the UK, police were made aware that a terrorist group were planning to cause major disruption in a city, devices were left near homes and caused havoc outside an airport, vans and buses were set alight, and images of elected politicians were burned next to signs calling for the murder of an entire religion.

Did the people of Britain hear much about this? No. Because this wasn’t London or Manchester. This was Belfast.

It happens every year. The 12th of July is when members of the Protestant, unionist community parade to mark the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne. But on the night before, when they light their infamous bonfires, trouble often ensues.

After police moved in to remove some pyres which had gotten ‘out of control’ yesterday, they were met with hostility, and last night the PSNI received reports that the UVF were threatening serious disruption in response. A bomb threat sparked panic at Belfast City Airport, and a bus was set alight in the city.

For their part, a handful of youths in the republican Bogside area of Derry have also been committing vandalism for no apparent reason, and intimidating the local area.

It is a sign of just how detached Northern Ireland is from the rest of Britain that these incidents barely made headlines on the mainland.

It is particularly ironic because the unionist demonstrations which mark this time of year are all performed in the name of being loyal, British citizens. And while many mark the tradition peacefully, others insist on threatening displays of sectarianism.

They celebrate their identity by burning mountains of palettes and tyres, upon which they hoist Irish and EU flags, statues of the Virgin Mary, the election posters of nationalist politicians, threats to the press, taunts aimed at victims of the Troubles, and signs bearing the chilling acronym "KAT". This stands for ‘Kill all Taigs’ – and by Taigs, they mean Catholics.

It is particularly ironic because the unionist demonstrations which mark this time of year are all performed in the name of being loyal, British citizens. And while many mark the tradition peacefully, others insist on threatening displays of sectarianism.

They celebrate their identity by burning mountains of palettes and tyres, upon which they hoist Irish and EU flags, statues of the Virgin Mary, the election posters of nationalist politicians, threats to the press, taunts aimed at victims of the Troubles, and signs bearing the chilling acronym "KAT". This stands for ‘Kill all Taigs’ – and by Taigs, they mean Catholics.

It is particularly ironic because the unionist demonstrations which mark this time of year are all performed in the name of being loyal, British citizens. And while many mark the tradition peacefully, others insist on threatening displays of sectarianism.

They celebrate their identity by burning mountains of palettes and tyres, upon which they hoist Irish and EU flags, statues of the Virgin Mary, the election posters of nationalist politicians, threats to the press, taunts aimed at victims of the Troubles, and signs bearing the chilling acronym "KAT". This stands for ‘Kill all Taigs’ – and by Taigs, they mean Catholics.

It is particularly ironic because the unionist demonstrations which mark this time of year are all performed in the name of being loyal, British citizens. And while many mark the tradition peacefully, others insist on threatening displays of sectarianism.

They celebrate their identity by burning mountains of palettes and tyres, upon which they hoist Irish and EU flags, statues of the Virgin Mary, the election posters of nationalist politicians, threats to the press, taunts aimed at victims of the Troubles, and signs bearing the chilling acronym "KAT". This stands for ‘Kill all Taigs’ – and by Taigs, they mean Catholics.

Is this British culture? Surely the majority of English people would say it is not. Margaret Thatcher once said Ulster was as British as Finchley, but it’s hard to imagine a burning heap of all things Catholic – or Muslim, or Jewish – being tolerated in north London.

Northern Ireland is different from the rest of the UK – as perfectly evidenced by the absent media coverage, and the lack of outrage over this demonstration of unionist culture.

And yet it is for the sake of unionists that Northern Ireland is being dragged along, against its wishes, behind the trainwreck that is Brexit, in case they should feel any less British than the rest of the UK.

It is in their interests that the DUP cling on to the back of the wagon, steering a British prime minister – even as her wheels fall off – not caring for the consequences, so long as we all go over the cliff edge together.

It is all the more bizarre, all the more infuriating, when you consider that 56 per cent of people in Northern Ireland actually voted to remain in the EU. A recent poll showed support has now risen to 69 per cent.

So there is a strong wish in Northern Ireland to remain in a union – but it is the European Union. In the Brexit negotiations, it should at least receive special status.

Put simply, the region is a world away from London, and if no one there pays attention to our troubles now, why would they care when we are hit by the worst effects of Brexit?

For it is in Northern Ireland that farmers will be most hit, families will be separated across a border, the rights of passport-holding Irish citizens will be reduced – and yes, our very access to electricity threatened.

When it comes to Brexit, Northern Ireland should be treated differently to the rest of the UK because it is different to the rest of the UK.