Silent protest at Belfast school

Protestants turn their backs on Catholics doing the school-run through the Ardoyn Road

BELFAST, Northern Ireland -- Protestants held a silent demonstration on Friday as dozens of Roman Catholic girls and their parents walked to school on the fifth day of protests.

Protestants living on the Ardoyne Road where the Holy Cross Catholic school's front entrance held the quiet protest out of respect for a 16-year-old killed when his bike was struck by a car in north Belfast on Tuesday.

A 32-year-old woman has appeared before Belfast magistrates charged with his murder.

Protestant and Catholic clergymen prayed for the teenager, whose funeral was taking place at his home in the White City district, three miles away.

VIDEO Elaine Burns talks with CNN's Matthew Chance about how the bombing outside a Belfast school impacts her two daughters (September 6) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Despite recent violence, Roman Catholic parents seem determined to walk their children to school. CNN's Matthew Chance reports (September 6) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   MORE STORIES • Parents recall bomb terror   • On the scene: 15 minutes of terror     EXTRA INFORMATION • In pictures: Running the gauntlet of hate   • Q & A: Belfast school violence     AUDIO CNN's Matthew Chance: Protesters turned their backs on parents and children 1.05MB / 50 sec WAV sound CNN's Matthew Chance talks to Father Aidan Troy 2.24MB / 213 sec WAV sound

One Catholic parent told the UK's Press Association: "The death of the young boy was a tragedy, a terrible tragedy, no matter what religion. We respect what they (the Protestant residents) did. We also held a minute's silence."

Anger had spilled over on Wednesday when a blast bomb was thrown at police attempting to protect the children. On two previous days, stones and abuse had been hurled.

The Protestants turned their backs on the children on Thursday blowing whistles and smashing dustbin lids together.

But with their backs turned again, they staged a silent protest for the first time on Friday.

CNN's Matthew Chance said the Protestants had changed tactics during the week, but a lot of opposition to the 100-metre walk still existed in the community.

"They say they have legitimate grievances and that they will come out every day until the movement of children is changed," he added.

Protestants, who are in the minority in the area, say their homes are being attacked by Catholics and that members of the Irish Republican Army are using the children to move into the community.

Some Protestants are preparing to move out of the area for good because of the violence and intimidation, they say.

The Catholic parents say they plan to continue using the front entrance because it is their democratic right to do so, even though another entrance would take them away from the Ardoyne Road.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said he empathised with the Protestants, but said an understanding had to exist on both sides.

"I accept entirely that republicans have to be open to and reach out, and be part of a process, because we all have to live together in this city," he was reported as saying.

The change in the Protestant approach has given hope that negotiations can begin to try and resolve the impasse.

No face-to-face talks have occurred so far, but it is understood mediators are involved putting forward a number of proposals which they believe might give the two sides some breathing space.

Northern Ireland Secretary Dr. John Reid, who cut short his holiday to return to the area, is having more meetings with his officials on Friday to try and put an end to the recent "very dark days."

He said: "I hope everyone involved behaves with a calmness and a dignity and remembers that anything they do and say can inflame a situation which, although it is still difficult, has been getting better in the last few days."

Pope John Paul II also urged both sides in the sectarian divide to show "goodwill."

"Present difficulties are a reminder that peace is a fragile reality calling for continued goodwill and the implementation of society," he said in an address to Ireland's new ambassador to the Holy See on Friday, Reuters reported.