School security tightened after loyalist threats

Police were today mounting a major security operation at dozens of schools across north Belfast following loyalist threats against teachers and school staff.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan said his officers were taking ‘‘very clear steps’’ to try to reassure everyone and make sure people in all parts of the community and their children got to school safely.

‘‘That will include very high profile operations in the vicinity of schools and it will include working very closely with head teachers and people in the community to try to do everything we can to try to ensure everything passes off safely,’’ he said.

Northern Ireland’s First Minister David Trimble and Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan called for an immediate lifting of the threats and described as ‘‘horrific’’ the weekend murder of postman Daniel McColgan which was followed by threats to Catholic postal workers.

‘‘The recent threats made by loyalist paramilitaries against Catholic postal workers and teachers, especially those working in north Belfast, should be withdrawn immediately,’’ they said in a joint statement.

‘‘Workers should be able to earn a living free from any form of attack or intimidation.

‘‘Schools should be a haven for children, a place where they can learn and understand more about the importance of tolerance and respect for others.’’

Attacks on pupils travelling to and from school, which had been witnessed from both loyalists and republican communities, should also cease immediately, they said.

Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness, the Northern Ireland education minister, has also convened a meeting of all sections of the education system to discuss what he called ‘‘the unacceptable threat against teachers and school staff’’ together with the wider situation in north Belfast schools.

The meeting is also being attended by the unions representing teachers and ancillary staff.

The Red Hand Defenders, at the end of last week, threatened that Catholic teachers and school staff were ‘‘legitimate targets’’.

The threat came after loyalist thugs smashed up teachers’ cars at one north Belfast Catholic school while their main target - the Holy Cross girls primary school - was shut following a night of intense rioting on the surrounding streets.

The same organisation claimed responsibility for the murder on Saturday of Mr McColgan - and said other Catholic postal staff were also targets.

Mr McQuillan said police believed a later statement repudiating the RHD claim and threat and had ‘‘good reason to believe’’ it was elements within the mainstream loyalist Ulster Defence Association which carried out the killing.

But he said, despite a pattern of previous Red Hand Defenders threats proving false, he realised there was huge concern within the community.

‘‘We are not going to take any chances and we will be ensuring there is a substantial security operation,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, two men remained in police custody after they were arrested for questioning about the murder of 20-year-old Mr McColgan who was shot dead as he arrived for work at a sorting office in the staunchly loyalist Rathcoole area on the edge of north Belfast.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has been in talks with Consignia about threats to other Catholic postal staff and Mr McQuillan said because of the nature of the job it was not easy to provide protection.

‘‘We are talking to them and their staff to see what we can do to deter any further attacks, but it isn’t easy,’’ he said.

But later at police headquarters in Belfast he added: ‘‘We believe Mr McColgan was not killed because he was a postal worker but because he happened to be a Catholic who was convenient to the people who wanted to murder him.’’

As a mark of respect to the murdered postman there were no postal collections in Northern Ireland on Sunday and no deliveries today.

Mr McColgan’s funeral will take place in Co Antrim on Tuesday.

:: Meanwhile police are investigating a paramilitary-style shooting in west Belfast.

Police said a 20-year-old man was shot in both ankles and both elbows in an incident in the Norglen Road shortly before 10pm yesterday.

He was treated in hospital, a spokesman said.