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By Bimpe Fatogan
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern and Secretary of State John Reid last night added their voices to calls for an end to the protests at Holy Cross.
Dr Reid has cut short his holiday and is flying back to Northern Ireland today.
The secretary of state said the Ardoyne protest was leading the north down “the path to barbarism”.
“Once again the reputation of Northern Ireland across the world has been dragged through the mud by people of violence,” he said
“Young children have been subjected to appalling attacks – another generation introduced to the shameful side of our society.”
Dr Reid said any legitimate grievances of protesters had been drowned out by “violent sectarian bigotry”.
Mr Ahern called for an early resolution of the “deplorable and shameful” situation through urgent dialogue.
“It is particularly tragic that children – some of whom are attending school for the first time – have become the innocent victims and the centre of such appalling scenes. This is very wrong,” he said.
Nationalist and unionist politicians from north Belfast met security minister, Jane Kennedy, at Stormont yesterday in a bid to resolve the situation.
SDLP assembly member Alban Maginness, who attended the meeting said it had been agreed that “breathing space” was needed in order for “community dialogue” to take place.
Speaking after the meeting Ms Kennedy, said politicians in the area are anxious to bring the violence to an end.
“Everyone I met agreed that the violence was utterly deplorable and must end if a lasting solution, in everyone’s interests, is to be reached,” she said.
“A great deal of work went on during the summer months to bring that solution about and efforts will continue.”
UUP Chairman, James Cooper, reiterated his party’s condemnation of the violence outside Holy Cross.
“It is a disgrace to see primary school children being attacked and intimidated. Any legitimate grievances held by the loyalist community have been totally overshadowed by the violent nature of the protest,” he said.
“I appeal for all sides to pull back and give the community leaders the breathing space needed to allow dialogue to take place.”
Minister for Education Martin McGuinness called for all political leaders to defend the right of the Holy Cross pupils “to be educated free from fear and intimidation”.
Deputy leader of the Alliance party Eileen Bell said “there is nothing to negotiate” about the pupils’ route to school.
“This is not a parade we are talking about, this is young children trying to get to school in the morning,” she said.
A spokeswoman from the Workers Party said the bomb attack was “nothing more than cold blooded attempted murder of young school children by hate–filled bigots”.
The Irish Republican Socialist Party said there must be an immediate end to the protest.
Leader of the Republic’s Labour Party Ruairi Quinn called for the Irish minister for foreign affairs to seek an urgent meeting with Dr Reid on the matter.
A spokesperson for the Belfast Education and Library Board, appealed for “those with influence in the communities to seek a speedy resolution”.
Belfast city council is to hold a meeting on Friday and the assembly will be debating the issue on Monday.
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