|
By Liz Trainor
A PROTESTANT community was left reeling last night from the death of a teenager killed in a suspected hit-and-run incident at a north Belfast flashpoint.
Flowers last night marked the spot where 16 year-old Thomas McDonald was knocked from his bicycle and killed at the entrance to the Protestant White City enclave.
A 32 year-old woman was arrested shortly after the incident yesterday morning on the flashpoint Whitewell Road and three others detained.
Hours before the area had been the scene of clashes between rival Protestant and Catholic groups.
As tensions grew more than 100 parents removed their children from Hazelwood Integrated primary school amid fears of renewed violence.
Principal Jill Houston said: “About one quarter of parents have removed their children early. People are anxious on both sides.”
“It is the senseless loss of a young life. Children have been asking all day what happened.
“Thomas’s younger sister attends the school and had to be taken home.
“Parents have been arriving steadily all morning asking if they could take their children, fearing trouble later,” she added.
White City residents, who are claiming the attack was sectarian, have warned of a backlash.
Resident Samuel Blair, a friend of the McDonald family, said: “People are very angry. Our area is being attacked day and daily by Sinn Fein/IRA and the RUC do nothing.
“It was only a matter of time before something like this would happen,” he added.
Community worker Brian Dunn said Thomas’s parents Pauline and Thomas were devastated.
“The whole estate is very shocked and the area is tense at the moment. The family is devastated. Words can’t really sum up how people feel.”
North Belfast United Unionist assembly member Frazer Agnew warned that tensions were rising in the community.
“My fear is that we are descending into anarchy,” he said.
Newtownabbey independent councillor Tommy Kirkham, a close friend of the McDonald family, said they were devastated.
“The family were friends of mine and I was chairman of the Community Association in White City for many years so I know them all very well,” Mr Kirkham said.
“A lot of people have gathered round them now to give support. I would just appeal for cool heads at this time,” he added.
RUC Detective Superintendent John Brannigan, who is leading the investigation, said: “It is a tragic incident happening in an interface which has witnessed sectarian strife in recent times and obviously we would appeal for calm and restraint following this tragedy.”
More News
|