|
By Sharon O’Neill
POLITICIANS from all sides last night united to condemn the latest scenes of violence outside a Catholic primary school in north Belfast.
For the second day running, children at Holy Cross girls’ school were caught up in fresh disturbances as Protestants in the Glenbryn area of upper Ardoyne continued their protest.
Security Minister Jane Kennedy urged both sides in the dispute to reach an agreement.
“There is absolutely no grievance that can justify that kind of behaviour. The police are there to make it absolutely clear that those children have a right to go to school,” she said.
“But we are also encouraging local community leaders, local politicians, local people involved in representing people’s grievances, to take those grievances into a separate environment... to use the avenues that have been established to resolve these differences.”
Speaking from Strasbourg, SDLP leader John Hume said he had been approached by a number of fellow MEPs who expressed shock at the situation in north Belfast.
“It is quite clear that this terrible sectarian behaviour has received massive international publicity and is doing serious damage to the image of Northern Ireland and to the Protestant people in particular,” he said.
“I appeal to the Protestant people to take the necessary steps to get this dreadful activity stopped and to make it clear that they utterly condemn it.”
Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble described the situation as “totally unacceptable”.
“The present situation in north Belfast is appalling. There is a serious danger that the problems could spread to other schools in the area,” he said.
“The scenes at the Holy Cross primary are totally unacceptable and are overshadowing the genuine concerns of Protestants living in interface areas in north Belfast. Until violence ends and dialogue begins, these concerns cannot be resolved.”
Mr Trimble also called on the social development minister, Maurice Morrow, to convene a forum to tackle the housing and social deprivation issues in the area.
Alban Maginness, SDLP assembly member for north Belfast, said: “We have come so far, yet events like this highlight what lies just beneath the surface in Northern Ireland. But we cannot give up.
“Politics is the only way forward. It is the only way to tackle the root causes of sectarianism and to leave the ways of the thugs at work here behind us.”
Gerry Kelly, Sinn Fein assembly member for north Belfast, said the huge security operation was not a solution to the problem.
“They do not want the RUC or British army to escort them to school,” he said.
“What they want is the people who are involved in this blockade to withdraw. People have the right to walk into the front door of their house and it’s the same here.”
The PUP’s Billy Hutchinson once again criticised the security operation, saying it was heavy-handed – a claim denied by the RUC.
“It is a total disgrace, the way people are being treated in this area. They are being treated like animals. There is another alternative route to this school.”
Nigel Dodds, DUP MP for north Belfast, said: “Everybody looking at this is appalled by what has happened in north Belfast. It is something that needs to be sorted out and resolved. It can’t be achieved overnight.”
Fern Turner, regional official of the National Association of Heads and Deputies, expressed concern that children might get hurt if the protests continued.
She said: “It was distressing to witness young children on their way to school being subjected to a barrage of abuse. What effect will that experience have on those young minds?
“If this situation continues, it will only be a matter of time before a child is seriously hurt – and at that stage, it will be too late for crocodile tears or protestations of regret.”
More News
|