9th January 2002

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Holy Cross parents attacked

Sinn Fein Councillor Margaret McClenaghan has accused loyalists of deliberately trying to raise sectarian tensions in North Belfast after they verbally and physically abused parents going to pick up their children at Holy Cross Primary school. They have now blocked the road and prevented parents from picking up their children.

Cllr. McClenaghan said:

``As parents of children at Holy Cross made their way up the Ardoyne Road this afternoon to collect their children from school they were verbally abused, spat on and assaulted by loyalists in the Glenbryn area.

``Loyalists appear to have renewed the blockade of the school, with parents unable to get their children home. Clearly the actions of these loyalists were organised to some degree. Those responsible for these attacks and the blockade are clearly intent on raising sectarian tensions in the area, following the same agenda as the UDA have been following over the past number of years.

``I would call upon unionist and loyalist politicians to work to end this situation before it gets out of control.''

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