Church leaders call for end to loyalist protest

Anglican and Catholic church leaders in the North have united to call for an end to the loyalist protest on the Ardoyne Road in north Belfast.

For five days this week, residents of the loyalist Glenbryn estate hurled sectarian abuse, stones, bottles and a blast bomb at parents bringing their children to the Catholic Holy Cross girls primary school.

The Anglican primate of all Ireland, Robin Eames, and the Catholic bishop of Down and Connor, Patrick Walsh, both urged the residents to end their protest.

“We are utterly revolted by those scenes outside the school,” Dr Eames said. “There is a wave of revulsion across this province.” Bishop Walsh said he hoped the residents would accept that talks are the only means of finding a solution and allow their Catholic neighbours to walk to school in peace.

However, the loyalist residents are expected to hold another protest on Monday morning, meaning the four to 11-year-old schoolgirls will have to be escorted to school by armed RUC riot police to protect them from the stone-throwing protestors.