Holy Cross parent on hunger strike

One of the parents whose children attend Holy Cross school has gone on hunger strike.

The parent, who doesn't want to be named, says he feels he has been unable to protect his daughter from the 12-week loyalist protest against children walking to school.

The father took his decision to refuse food last Wednesday.

The parents' group has only just heard of his decision and the chairman of the school's board of governors, Fr Aidan Troy, is trying to talk him out of it.

The parent says it is a last resort out of his anger and frustration that his daughter is still suffering after 12 weeks of the protest.

He says politicians are doing nothing to end the conflict and that "because the parents are Catholics, no one cares about them".

Many parents are concerned about the permanent psychological effects on their daughters of walking to school in an atmosphere of hatred and violence.

A spokesman for the loyalist protestors called the hunger strike "irresponsible".