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12/11/2001
Huge police presence criticised at Holy Cross
Both nationalists and loyalists have spoken out about a huge security operation - the largest mounted to date - outside Holy Cross Primary School in north Belfast.
It followed another night of rioting in the north of the city, during which a 16-year-old died and more than 25 police officers were injured.
On Monday, around 400 riot police were drafted in to line the controversial route parents and children take along the Ardoyne Road towards Holy Cross Girls' Primary School. The move was designed to allow parents and children to walk to the school in an agreed time of 35 minutes instead of walking up in a large group escorted by a convoy.
However the move has received widespread criticism. Catholic parents said they had felt exposed as they made their way in small groups to the school along the Ardoyne Road, and Protestant residents said their goodwill gesture in scaling down the protest last week had been ignored.
Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan said the current situation, which costs about £50,000 a day, could not go on throughout the winter.
Speaking on Monday he said: “We can't have young children of four, five and six standing in the freezing cold. It's just not on.”
Mr McQuillan said he wanted to act swiftly to reach a situation where parents and children could walk freely to the school. (AMcE)
It followed another night of rioting in the north of the city, during which a 16-year-old died and more than 25 police officers were injured.
On Monday, around 400 riot police were drafted in to line the controversial route parents and children take along the Ardoyne Road towards Holy Cross Girls' Primary School. The move was designed to allow parents and children to walk to the school in an agreed time of 35 minutes instead of walking up in a large group escorted by a convoy.
However the move has received widespread criticism. Catholic parents said they had felt exposed as they made their way in small groups to the school along the Ardoyne Road, and Protestant residents said their goodwill gesture in scaling down the protest last week had been ignored.
Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan said the current situation, which costs about £50,000 a day, could not go on throughout the winter.
Speaking on Monday he said: “We can't have young children of four, five and six standing in the freezing cold. It's just not on.”
Mr McQuillan said he wanted to act swiftly to reach a situation where parents and children could walk freely to the school. (AMcE)
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