School in the North removed as a polling station after protests

A school in the North will not be used as a polling station in the UK General Election after “hostile” loyalist protests during voting last year.

The demonstration was held outside Howard Primary School in Moygashel, Co Tyrone, during the May 2014 European and council elections.

The MP for Fermanagh South Tyrone, Sinn Féin’s Michelle Gildernew, expressed serious concerns to the Electoral Commission last year.

She said: “The presence of a large number of hostile flag protesters outside the polling station in Moygashel on election day for the European election deterred many people from voting and exercising their democratic right.

“This is a victory for common sense and one that will now allow the democratic process in this area to go unhindered.”

The Electoral Office, which organises polls in the North, confirmed the change.