Chief of the North’s Human Rights Commission Prof Brice Dickson today called for loyalists to end their school protest in north Belfast.
Prof Dickson, who was due to meet RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan today to discuss the protest, made the appeal after watching the morning school run to Holy Cross girls' primary school.
In contrast to ugly scenes on Ardoyne Road earlier this week. the protest passed off peacefully. Demonstrators stayed silent, most with their backs turned to the school convoy.
Afterward, Prof Dickson said it is "entirely unacceptable protest" and that the commission has said many times it should be called off.
"We would like the children and the parents to be able to walk up the street unhindered and with no abuse," he said.
Prof Dickson was heckled by parents as he made his comments, with one woman calling out: "They knew you were coming - that's why it's was peaceful".
Chairman of the school's board of governors Fr Aidan Troy welcomed the involvement of the commission in the dispute, now in its eighth week.
PA