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26/10/2001
McGuinness appeals for talks on Ardoyne situation
Following the decision of schools in North Belfast to make common holiday arrangements over the Halloween period, Education Minister, Martin McGuinness, has urged everyone, including local political representatives, to use the period for further negotiations.
The Minister said: “The ongoing situation in North Belfast must stop. Children, teachers and parents from both Holy Cross and Wheatfield Primaries in particular have had to deal with unprecedented levels of stress and disruption every day for the past number of weeks and schools right across North Belfast are being affected.
“Local people now have a breathing space over the Halloween period and I would encourage community representatives and local political leaders to use this period to focus their efforts to find a solution that brings to an end the daily trauma being suffered by schoolchildren in the area.”
Two people were arrested on Friday October 26, following minor scuffles as loyalist protestors attempted to block the Ardoyne Road near to the Holy Cross Primary School in north Belfast.
Police in riot gear had moved in to clear a number of loyalist protestors who were attempting to block the road as parents and relatives of the school children returned to the school to attend a Halloween party.
Police arrested a woman as scuffles broke out and later a man was arrested as the protesters confronted the security operation.
The loyalist protestors claimed that that the parents had inflamed the situation at the community flashpoint by making what they said was an “unnecessary trip” to the school.
Earlier, the Chairman of the School’s Board of Governors Father Aidan Troy said that with the school children in fancy dress, in an attempt to lighten the atmosphere prior to the half-term break, it was regrettable that an arrest had taken place.
Education Minister Martin McGuinness has announced extra funding for the Holy cross and nearby Wheatfield Primary Schools. The funding will be used to help the school’s deal what the Minister said was the “unprecedented levels of stress and disruption” that had taken place in the past eight weeks.
Residents in the protestant enclave in Glenbryn area have been mounting an ongoing protest outside the school because of alleged attacks on residents from the surrounding Ardoyne area, which is predominantly Catholic. (SP)
The Minister said: “The ongoing situation in North Belfast must stop. Children, teachers and parents from both Holy Cross and Wheatfield Primaries in particular have had to deal with unprecedented levels of stress and disruption every day for the past number of weeks and schools right across North Belfast are being affected.
“Local people now have a breathing space over the Halloween period and I would encourage community representatives and local political leaders to use this period to focus their efforts to find a solution that brings to an end the daily trauma being suffered by schoolchildren in the area.”
Two people were arrested on Friday October 26, following minor scuffles as loyalist protestors attempted to block the Ardoyne Road near to the Holy Cross Primary School in north Belfast.
Police in riot gear had moved in to clear a number of loyalist protestors who were attempting to block the road as parents and relatives of the school children returned to the school to attend a Halloween party.
Police arrested a woman as scuffles broke out and later a man was arrested as the protesters confronted the security operation.
The loyalist protestors claimed that that the parents had inflamed the situation at the community flashpoint by making what they said was an “unnecessary trip” to the school.
Earlier, the Chairman of the School’s Board of Governors Father Aidan Troy said that with the school children in fancy dress, in an attempt to lighten the atmosphere prior to the half-term break, it was regrettable that an arrest had taken place.
Education Minister Martin McGuinness has announced extra funding for the Holy cross and nearby Wheatfield Primary Schools. The funding will be used to help the school’s deal what the Minister said was the “unprecedented levels of stress and disruption” that had taken place in the past eight weeks.
Residents in the protestant enclave in Glenbryn area have been mounting an ongoing protest outside the school because of alleged attacks on residents from the surrounding Ardoyne area, which is predominantly Catholic. (SP)
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Support package for two north Belfast primary schools
The Education Minister Martin McGuinness has announced details of a £154,000 support package for Holy Cross and Wheatfield Primary Schools in North Belfast. Mr McGuinness said: “Children, teachers and parents from both schools have had to deal with unprecedented levels of stress and disruption every day for the last eight weeks.
Support package for two north Belfast primary schools
The Education Minister Martin McGuinness has announced details of a £154,000 support package for Holy Cross and Wheatfield Primary Schools in North Belfast. Mr McGuinness said: “Children, teachers and parents from both schools have had to deal with unprecedented levels of stress and disruption every day for the last eight weeks.
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