Trouble flares outside Holy Cross Primary School

Trouble has flared outside the beleaguered Holy Cross primary school in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast.

The PSNI reported that trouble between residents from the Protestant Glenbryn estate and parents from neighbouring Catholic Ardoyne erupted around 2.30pm outside the Catholic primary school on Wednesday January 9.

Pupils from Holy Cross were initially blocked by protesters but were later able to leave the school by bus after a time, while protesters remained at the gate.

Speaking late on Wednesday afternoon a police spokesman said there was an “ongoing very serious disturbance” in the Alliance Avenue and Glenbryn Park area of north Belfast.

As police came under attack from rioters throwing fireworks and petrol bombs a police vehicle was burnt out. Police warned motorists to avoid the Crumlin Road area over the ongoing unrest, as at least five cars had been burnt out in the area.

Local Sinn Féin councillor Margaret McClenaghan has accused loyalists of “deliberately trying to raise sectarian tensions in north Belfast.”

She said protesters “verbally and physically abused parents going to pick up their children at Holy Cross Primary School and blocked the road and stopped parents from picking up their children.”

She said: “Clearly the actions these loyalists were organised to some degree.

“Those responsible for these attacks and the blockade are clearly intent on raising sectarian tensions in the area, following the same agenda as the UDA have been following over the past number of years.

“I would call upon Unionist and loyalist politicians to work to end this situation before it gets out of control.”

Father Aiden Troy said that due to the unrest the Holy Cross Primary School would be closed on Thursday, January 10. (AMcE)