McAleese scraps planned visit to loyalist Shankill Road

07/09/2005 - 12:03:13
President Mary McAleese has abandoned plans to visit the loyalist Shankill Road in Belfast tomorrow due to concerns about loyalist violence in the area.

Mrs McAleese had been due to visit a primary school in the area, but announced today that she would instead meet parents, teachers and pupils from the school at another location.

The decision was taken due to an upsurge in loyalist attacks and street violence in Belfast in recent weeks and fears that the visit could exacerbate the situation.

The trip was due to be the President's first visit to the Shankill Road since the controversy she sparked earlier this year when she compared Protestant sectarianism to the Nazi hatred of Jews.