Ardoyne protest called off as a mark of respect for US dead

The loyalist protest outside a north Belfast Catholic school is to be called off on Friday as a mark of respect for those killed in the terrorist attacks in the United States.

Following a meeting, the residents from the loyalist Glenbryn area of Ardoyne said they would not be blocking the route to the Catholic Holy Cross Primary School on Friday September 14 out of respect to the victims of the New York and Washington attacks.

The suspension of the protests coincides with a Europe-wide decision to hold a national day of mourning on Friday for the victims of the attacks.

However, the Glenbryn residents said after Friday’s suspension, the protest would continue. The residents have been protesting at Holy Cross Girls’ Primary School for a second week because of alleged republican attacks on their homes.

Loyalists protestors, in marked contrast to the first three days of the Holy Cross dispute, have kept a silent protests as the children travelled to school but have sounded whistles and horns as their parents returned to the nationalist Ardoyne area.

On Thursday morning loyalist residents from the Glenbryn area held a prayer service and a minute’s silence in memory of the victims of the attacks.

On Wednesday September 12, parents and children from Holy Cross said prayers and held a minute’s silence for the victims of the atrocities. The short service was led by parish priest Father Aidan Troy before the group made its way through with a security escort to the school on the eighth day of the dispute.

Father Troy said the people of the area wanted to show their solidarity with the victims of the New York and Washington attacks. (AMcE)