Pupils ‘devastated’ as McAleese cancels Shankill visit

PUPILS at a Belfast primary school were “devastated” that President Mary McAleese cancelled a planned visit to the Shankill Road area, its principal said yesterday.

Betty Orr, principal of Edenbrooke Primary School, in the Shankill area of west Belfast, said pupils and staff had organised an event to celebrate “bridge-building and the recognition of differences” for the day.

“The children have done a lot of work in preparation,” she said.