Protestants plan silent protest for Monday morning

Loyalist residents of the Ardoyne area of north Belfast say there will be another protest tomorrow when Catholic parents take their children to the Holy Cross School.

However, they say the protest will be peaceful and silent as the youngsters and their families pass.

Earlier, local parish priest and Chairman of the school’s Board of Governors Fr Aidan Troy, said: “I recognise that if people want to conduct a peaceful, silent protest, then in our society that is acceptable...as long as the threat of any form of violence and intimidation is gone.”

Spectators remain hopeful that the protest is de-escalating while church and other leaders have called for an end to the dispute, saying violence should never be directed towards children.