Applications for Holy Cross school halved

The chairman of the Holy Cross Catholic primary school in north Belfast has revealed that applications for admission to the school have fallen by 50% this year.

The school was at the centre of a loyalist blockade last year because it is located in a mainly Protestant section of the Ardoyne area.

Loyalist protestors blocked the road leading to the school and shouted abuse at schoolgirls and their parents as they were escorted into the building by police.

At one stage, a blast bomb was thrown at the children.