School protest in Ardoyne enters third week

The loyalist protest against Catholic parents taking their children to school in north Belfast has entered its third week.

Despite the protest being called off on Friday as a mark of respect to the victims of the terrorist attacks in the United States, residents of the loyalist Glenbryn area continued with their protest on Monday 17 September.

The residents have been protesting outside catholic Holy Cross Primary School for two weeks because of alleged attacks on their homes by those from the nationalist community.

The schoolgirls and their parents have been escorted to school by the security forces every day past the protesters attempting to block their route through the Protestant part of Ardoyne.

Progressive Unionist Mr Billy Hutchinson has called for talks to begin to end the dispute at Holy Cross Primary School in north Belfast.

Father Aidan Troy, chairman of Holy Cross board of governors, has welcomed the call and said the nationalist community is ready for talks now.

“If Billy Hutchinson is calling for dialogue I certainly would welcome that because there is absolutely no substitute for it,” said Fr Troy.

Efforts have now been stepped up to end the dispute. Last week the Stormont Executive appointed a community liaison officer to meet both sides and discuss their concerns. Mr Derek Wheeler, a senior civil servant from the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister, has set up an office in a nearby community centre to meet all those involved in the dispute. Having met Loyalist residents last Thursday, he is currently due to meet Catholic residents later this week. (AMcE)