Protest school: police and protestors reach deal
Police officers protecting Catholic schoolchildren going to a North Belfast primary school today removed riot gear after an agreement was struck with Loyalist protestors.
Intensive discussions between Glenbryn residents and senior police chiefs at the weekend led to a scaling down of security in return for a reduction of tension in the 11-week protest.
The protestors stood away from the police vehicles as children and parents walked the 400 yards up the Ardoyne Road to Holy Cross Primary School.
There were no noisy horns or claxons to greet the parents as they returned from the school.
However, nationalists were angry that they had not been consulted about the new arrangements and expressed concern about the reduction in security levels.
Officer in charge Supt Robert Robinson said over the weekend a number of proposals had been proposed by the protestors and police had responded positively.
He welcomed the fact that today’s protest had been entirely peaceful but said his priority remained the safety of the children.
‘‘We are here to do a job and make sure the children and parents get to school safely.
‘‘There were no officers in riot gear but we were in a position to react if there were difficulties,’’ he said.
Stuart McCartney, spokesman for the loyalist group, the Concerned Residents of Upper Ardoyne, welcome recognition by the police that the protest was legitimate.
‘‘We have endeavoured all through the week to try and remove the children from the equation. We are working with the police now to ensure that.’’
But Isobel McGrann of the Right to Education Group said parents and children felt vulnerable because of the reduction in security measures.
‘I’m not happy with the scaling down. The police should have sat down with both sides to talk about this.
‘‘I don’t think the loyalists have scaled down their blockade. This is just an attempt to sanitise their protest,’’ she said.
Sinn Fein Assembly member for North Belfast Gerry Kelly claimed the numbers protesting had actually increased.
‘‘I’m told that the police presence has been decreased. People are very nervous about this. This was some sort of deal between the police and protesters. The parents weren’t consulted.
‘‘The bottom line is that any protest against children from aged four to 11 is wrong.’’
The loyalist residents confirmed that they were considering calling off their protest on Friday when the children are sitting the 11-plus transfer tests.
Press spokeswoman Anne Bill said they would be releasing a statement later about their decision.
