25 June 2001

MINOR TROUBLE CONTINUES IN NORTH BELFAST

MINOR trouble broke out in north Belfast after a weekend of relative calm following last week's sectarian riots.

A gang of around 20 men broke through a peace line gate on Sunday night, which separates the loyalist Tiger’s Bay from the nationalist Duncairn Gardens, and attacked property with paint bombs, stones and other missiles.

Three homes and a car in Duncairn Gardens were damaged. It is believed the men were from the predominantly loyalist Tiger's Bay area.

In a separate incident fireworks were thrown at houses in the Oldpark area and a petrol bomb was thrown at police in North Queen Street. The police also reported sporadic stone throwing throughout the Ardoyne area.

Meanwhile, two primary schools in the area remained closed following the discovery of a suspicious device.

The principal of Holy Cross Girls Primary School said the school had been closed on security advice because of the suspect device found attached to railings near the gates on Ardoyne Road. Wheatfield Primary School on the opposite side of the street was also closed and army technical experts were called to the scene. It was later declared a hoax.

The RUC chief constable had welcomed a return to relative calm in north and west Belfast after last week’s rioting.

Scores of police officers were injured by blast, petrol and acid bombs, which were thrown at the security forces during the disturbances on 20 and 21 June.

On Friday, meetings took place between the rival sides aimed at bringing the bitter dispute to an end. A public meeting unanimously backed an end to the street protests that have led to Protestant families leaving their homes and Catholic children belonging to Holy Cross Primary School being prevented from going to school through the loyalist Glenbryn area.

Community representatives also urged the setting up of a cross-community forum to reach a resolution before the start of the new school year. (AMcE)