Calls for ‘peace wall’ for Belfast school

The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education has said that a 'peace wall' to prevent sectarian attacks close to a school in north Belfast is a "last resort".

It is understood that the Northern Ireland Office is considering building a wall at Hazlewood Integrated Primary School in north Belfast.

Residents in the mainly Catholic Throne Estate area have been subject to a number of arson and missile attacks from youths from mainly Protestant White City. They have asked for the wall to be erected.

The NIO has said it was being built after a spate of attacks last summer, and it has been suggested that youths entered the Whitewell Road School’s grounds to carry out these attacks.

DUP MLA Nelson McCausland said: “It is disappointing that it's happened, but at the end of the day the priority has to be the safety and security of families living in those houses,” he said.

“If people can’t live in safety and security then they deserve some sort protection. After 30 years of violence the animosity is such that it will take years before we get rid of peace lines.”

The NICIE confirmed that talks have been held over what is a sensitive issue in the area and said that building a peace wall in the area was a last resort.

A statement from Hazlewood Integrated School said it had been at the forefront of "building peace through the provision of supportive and inclusive education for children" for the last 22 years.

"Unfortunately there are still those within our society who wish to inflict harm upon others, and we were deeply concerned to hear that residents, living adjacent to our school grounds, were attacked last summer," it said.

"We believe that the protection of life, both inside and outside of the school, is of paramount importance.

"Therefore, we have given our full support to community initiatives that address some of the underlying problems in the area. We have also agreed plans, in conjunction with DENI, to upgrade security in the school grounds."

The school also said they had a number of concerns over the impact the fence may have on the school and wider community, including genuine issues of child safety.

(JM/SP)