School protest parents pray for American victims

Catholic children and parents at the centre of the north Belfast school walk protests today held a prayer service and a minute’s silence for the thousands of victims of the terrorist outrage in the United States.

Before being given an escort through the police and army lines to the school gates, board of governors chairman Father Aidan Troy led them in prayer.

Father Troy said the people of the area were enormously saddened by the tragedies in New York and Washington.

‘‘There are many children whose parents didn’t come home and in solidarity with all those who died we will hold a minute’s silence,’’ he said.

Loyalist protesters again stood in silence with their backs turned as the children then made their way to the school on the eighth day of the protest.

Youth worker Stewart McCartney confirmed that they had talked about calling today’s protest off but added: ‘‘Whether it’s a bomb at Canary Wharf or whether it’s a famine in Kenya there are still tragedies here which we have to focus on.’’

Last night a delegation of loyalist residents met with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State John Reid at Hillsborough Castle to air their grievances. Mr McCartney said: ‘‘All I’m prepared to say is that we appreciate the fact that the Secretary of State took the time to hear the issues from our mouths, there isn’t many people who have been prepared to do that.’’

As the parents made their return journey the protesters again blew whistles and sounded horns.

At one corner a group held a large banner saying: ‘‘The walk of shame.’’

Many sang We Shall Not Be Moved as the parents returned to their area.