By Sharon O’Neill


SECRETARY of State John Reid has held a round of emergency meetings to discuss the crisis in north Belfast, ahead of today’s rallies in support of parents and children of Holy Cross primary school.

Dr Reid cut short his holiday and returned to Northern Ireland yesterday, in a bid to find a resolution to the bitter dispute in Ardoyne.

A huge security operation is expected to be in place once again this morning, as Catholic children and their parents make the journey to the school, situated in the loyalist Glenbryn estate.

Yesterday, loyalist protesters blew whistles and horns as the children passed, but there was no repeat of the violence which had been seen in the previous days.

Parents will hold a vigil this morning on the lower Ardoyne Road to highlight their campaign and they have called for the support of clergy, politicians and nearby schools.

Ardoyne residents will also address a similar rally, organised by Sinn Fein to take place at the GPO in Dublin between 5pm and 7pm.

This afternoon, Belfast city council will hold a special meeting to discuss the Ardoyne situation and Sinn Fein has tabled a motion for it to be debated at the assembly on Monday.

Earlier, Brendan Mailey, spokesman for the Holy Cross parents’ committee, issued a call for widespread support.

“We would like John Hume, David Trimble and Ian Paisley to come and talk to parents, so we can put across our message of what’s happening here,” he said.

“We would also like the four Church leaders to walk up this road to show support for children... We want them to experience a small part of what the children have gone through.”

Over the next few days, Dr Reid will hold talks with political and community representatives in north Belfast to discuss the crisis.

Dr Reid has been briefed by RUC chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan and has discussed the situation with Holy Cross principal Anne Tanney and Father Aidan Troy, chairman of the board of governors at the school.

Earlier, the secretary of state urged both sides involved to end the “savagery” and sectarianism in north Belfast.

“The terrible events of the last few days at Holy Cross school have presented politicians with a clear choice,” he said.

“They can use those events to entrench their positions to blame the other side, or they can use that crisis as a spur to finding a political resolution to the deep bitterness and hatred that seems to exist in certain sections of the community.

“I hope that what has happened in north Belfast will act as a spur to all politicians to work together.”

Dr Reid said he would continue to monitor the state of the UDA ceasefire. He warned, however, that action would be taken if there was a breach of the truce.

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