16th November 2001

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Sligo Councillors to walk to school with Holy Cross schoolchildren in North Belfast

A delegation comprising members of Sligo County Council have agreed to a proposal to travel to Belfast to walk to school with the parents and children of Holy Cross Girls Primary school in an act of solidarity with them and to witness at first hand the true extent of the sectarian abuse that these young children have to endure going to school.

Welcoming the decision of Sligo County Council to support his proposal, Sinn Fein Councillor Sean MacManus said that he believes that ``this is a very welcome development. It is of vital importance that the children and parents of Holy Cross know that their plight is not being ignored by politicians in this state. It is essential that other Councils do as we are about to do and show solidarity with the children, show then their plight is not being ignored and show them that we will continue to highlight and publicise at every opportunity what they have to endure.''

He concluded: ``The reality is that what these children are actually enduring can only be described as child abuse and the protests must be ended. Action now needs to be taken against those that are inflicting this abuse on these young girls and they must be allowed to travel to school free from this sectarian hatred and bigotry.''

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