By Kieran McDaid


ONLY the fluttering of flags overhead and the clicking of cameras broke the silence as Catholic schoolchildren made their way to Holy Cross primary school on the fifth day of the dispute.

A sombre tone replaced the abuse and hatred of previous days as the heavens opened and rain poured down on hundreds of silent parents and residents.

Both communities paid their respects to the Protestant teenager killed at another flashpoint area of the city on Tuesday in silence.

Even the ubiquitous army helicopter flew so high that its rotors were merely a hum in the distance.

Up to 140 Catholic school girls and their parents passed through the security corridor on the loyalist Glenbryn section of the Ardoyne Road.

The convoy headed by Fr Aidan Troy, the chairman of the school’s board of governors, tried to make its way along the road as quickly as possible, pushing its way through a huge media presence.

As the children passed the silent loyalist protesters, they smiled and looked relaxed. Three miles away the funeral of the Protestant teenager was under way.

Even the police Alsations seemed bewildered by the silence as they looked up at their handlers.

Unlike the previous four days of bitterness, blast bombs and whistling, there was no sectarian abuse – raising hopes that some sort of compromise can be reached.

Hundreds of loyalist protesters, many dressed in black, stood with their backs turned, making no reaction to the pupils and their parents as they passed by.

Earlier, they had called on Catholic parents not to take their children through the area to school as a mark of respect for 16-year-old Thomas McDonald, who died in an incident in the White City area on Tuesday.

Before the children walked to school, around 200 of the residents of Glenbryn gathered on the disputed Ardoyne Road to hold a short service in memory of the teenager who was buried yesterday.

Jim Potts, a spokesman for the Concerned Residents of Upper Ardoyne, explained: “We held a service as a mark of respect for Thomas McDonald and his family.

“On our side, there will be no whistle-blowing or shouting, we are being totally silent here today out of respect, but we still have a right to protest.”

Residents gathering on the street heard Pastor Billy McCourt say both sides had suffered throughout the week of turmoil.

He added: “It has been a hard week for all concerned. I’m not going to take sides and I’m not going to point fingers.”

But he sounded a note of hope that, as the weekend approaches, the two communities could try again to settle the dispute.

Later, the Rev Norman Hamilton, a Protestant minister, joined Fr Aidan Troy, and parents, in reciting the Lord’s prayer outside the school.

Fr Troy sounded a note of guarded optimism after the prayer, which was observed by numbers from both communities.

He said: “It’s certainly a gesture, but I don’t know if it’s a turning point.

“We were deeply touched by the young boy’s death, and when I asked the community for a minute’s silence with the Reverend Norman Hamilton, they said go ahead.”

Turning to the silent loyalist protesters, he added: “These people have also treated me with dignity today and that’s not bad when you consider what has happened.”

Mr Hamilton was quick to praise the priest’s idea.

“I think that’s a very bold initiative by Father Troy,” he said.

“The community has asked me to say they deeply appreciate it, it’s one step on the road to getting a solution to this.”

After the parents had returned through the security corridor to the nationalist Alliance Avenue, one of the mothers addressed a rally of supporters at Ardoyne shops.

“Thank you all for coming out and showing your support for us today. We have had many lonely days on this road,” said Isobel Gibson.

“Hopefully, this silent, dignified walk will show everyone that the mothers of these children have hearts and, hopefully, this protest will soon come to an end.”

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