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By Liz Trainor
NATIONALIST politicians described the blast bomb attack as Catholic school children walked to the Holy Cross school as an act of “anti-Catholic, sectarian bigotry”.
The loyalist Red Hand Defenders admitted responsibility for the blast which exploded yesterday morning injuring four RUC officers and a police dog.
Nationalists and republicans demanded an immediate end to the bitter protest accusing loyalist leaders of failing to control the situation.
SDLP assembly member Alban Maginness said he believed the device was directed at Catholics heading towards Holy Cross and accused the protesters of being driven by “a hatred of Catholics”.
“Whether or not it was intended to injure, it was definitely intended to terrorise people, both parents and children.
“This is not a protest. It is a blockade which derives itself from a deep well of anti-Catholic hatred in this community, it is fuelled by a hatred of Catholics which is as virulent and evil as anti-Semitism.”
Mr Maginness hit out at unionist politicians for, what he described as, lack of leadership.
He added: “We need an immediate end to this blockade and a community forum established. There is a moral duty on their political leaders to do this but they have failed.”
Sinn Fein assemblyman Gerry Kelly, who claimed the blast was planned, said it was a miracle more people were not injured.
“This was a blast-bomb attack on children. It injured an RUC man but it’s a miracle that more people and children were not injured.
“Somebody sat down in a paramilitary organisation last night and said the thing to do is to try to attack them with a blast bomb. The protesters have to be asked is this what they want?”
SDLP councillor Martin Morgan, who described a sense of anger among nationalists, said the device caused “absolute panic” when it exploded.
“It was made worse because the children had actually crossed the line and were unable to turn back.
“The right of the children is the issue here and unionists are putting their own slant on it when it amounts to nothing more than anti-Catholic, sectarian bigotry.”
And hitting out at loyalist leaders said: “There is a complete mismanagement and lack of political representation and progress within their own community.”
Ardoyne republican Martin Meehan, who observed the incident, claimed the attack was orchestrated and intended to explode in the middle of the children.
“There was a slow hand clapping as the children approached and then when it stopped the pipe bomb exploded. It seems more than a co-incidence,” he said.
Parish priest Fr Aidan Troy said the protesters had hit a “new low”.
“The question is what happens now. It is very difficult to say when you are looking into an abyss.
“Someone has to step out now and stop this. “I have one agenda and am for one issue and that is for the children getting to school in freedom and safety.”
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