Loyalists want Catholics to take other route as mark of respect

About 200 loyalists gathered on the disputed Ardoyne Road to hold a short service in memory of 16-year-old Thomas McDonald, who died in an incident in another flashpoint area of the city on Tuesday.

The Protestant community has called on Catholic parents not to take their children through the area to school this morning as a mark of respect for the teenager, who will be buried later today.

Jim Potts, a spokesman for the Concerned Residents of Upper Ardoyne, explained: ‘‘We’re holding a service as a mark of respect for Thomas McDonald and his family.

‘‘On our side there will be no whistle-blowing and shouting, we are being totally silent here today out of respect but we still have a right to protest.’’

Catholic parents moved away from the flashpoint to allow the service and are now moving towards the barrier to take their children to Holy Cross school. They are planning to hold their own memorial for the dead Protestant teenager at the top of the Ardoyne road.

Residents gathered on the street heard Pastor Billy McCourt say both sides had suffered throughout the week of turmoil.

He added: ‘‘It has been a hard week for all concerned. I’m not going to take sides and I’m not going to point fingers.’’

But he sounded a note of hope that as the weekend approaches the two communities could try again to settle the dispute.