Eight loyalists arrested over Ardoyne protest
The RUC has arrested eight men in connection with the loyalist protests outside Holy Cross girls’ primary school in Ardoyne, north Belfast.
The men were detained on public order offences following instructions from detectives who have been studying video footage of the protests.
The men were apparently arrested for screaming sectarian abuse at children travelling to their Catholic school through the loyalist Glenbryn estate.
During the first three days of the protest, loyalist residents shouted abuse at parents and children as they were escorted to school by armed RUC riot squads.
Some residents threw bottles, stones and a blast bomb at their Catholic neighbours.
Loyalist representatives immediately accused RUC chief constable Ronnie Flanagan of ordering today’s arrests because of political pressure from the SDLP.
