Ahern urged to back protest school parents

Parents of pupils at Holy Cross girls’ school who have faced weeks of abuse by loyalist protesters in north Belfast today called on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to travel to Belfast and join them on the school run.

A delegation of three parents travelled to the Canadian and South African foreign embassies in Dublin as part of a campaign to win international support for their cause.

But while trying to win global backing, the Catholic parents said more support should come from closer to home.

Group spokesman Brendan Mailey travelled to Dublin with John and Elizabeth Murphy to present their case and to show embassy officials videos of the protest, which has lasted for 12 weeks on the Ardoyne Road.

Speaking in Dublin, Mr Mailey said: "We would at least like to see Bertie Ahern coming up and showing that he had an interest in the situation. We have been trying to get in touch with Mr Ahern but have had no success."

Mr Mailey criticised a ‘‘lack of interest’’ from members of the Dáil, saying: "We have written to every single member of the Dail and not had a single answer.

"These schoolgirls are Irish children but they are obviously not as Irish as those in the 26 counties,’’ he said.

A spokesman for Mr Ahern said the situation was of "huge importance" to the Government.

"It would be unfair to say that the Taoiseach has not taken a huge interest in this," he said.

"The Taoiseach has met with the chair of school governors, Father Aidan Troy, here in Dublin about a month ago and he has taken it up with the British Prime Minister."

He added: "The Taoiseach has said this is a horrendous situation that needs to be resolved by the local people."

But Mr Mailey countered: "We need people to do more than that. They need to walk the walk, to listen to the abuse the children suffer, to meet the parents and show support physically. They need to come out and tell the protesters to stop it now."

Today’s call by the Catholic parents follows a meeting between loyalist protesters and Northern Ireland’s First and Deputy First Leaders David Trimble and Mark Durkan last night, as part of the latest efforts to end the bitter dispute.

Loyalist residents in the Ardoyne’s Glenbryn area are calling for a number of security measures, including the installation of CCTV and traffic calming schemes, before they will agree to lift the blockade.

The residents started the protest claiming that the school run, through the loyalist area, was being used as a shield for republican paramilitaries to enter their community.