10/09/2001

Loyalist protest at Ardoyne school continues

Loyalists whistled and shouted abuse at parents of Holy Cross Primary School children in north Belfast on Monday as the dispute between Catholics and Protestants entered its sixth day.

Residents stayed silent as children, escorted to school by their parents, were given a police escort through the Protestant Glenbryn estate to the school gates. But as the parents returned to the neighbouring Catholic Ardoyne area they were met with a noisy barrage of foghorns, alarms and whistles.

Speaking over the weekend Father Aidan Troy, chairman of the Holy Cross board of governors, stressed that talks must take place as a matter of urgency. He said the school protest was at risk of becoming “dangerously normal”.

Unlike last week’s tense and violent demonstrations, day six of the protest passed off without incident, although there are fears it could flare up again.

Talks between loyalist residents and Northern Ireland Secretary of State John Reid to resolve the situation have been delayed until Tuesday. (AMcE)

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