Loyalist paramilitaries have vowed to stay out of future sectarian disputes involving schoolchildren in flashpoint north Belfast.
A new set of guidelines issued by the Loyalist Commission - a body comprising paramilitary, church and political representatives - have been agreed in a bid to end the bitter confrontation.
The move is designed to prevent further violence such as the terrifying scenes outside the Holy Cross Primary School in the Ardoyne area.
The Ulster Defence Association was widely blamed for much of the trouble including a blast bomb attack as young Catholic girls walked past police lines on their way to class.
The UDA, the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Red Hand Commando are all represented on the body which was set up last year in a bid to ease tensions among feuding loyalist terror gangs.
Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble also sanctioned leading members to play a key role in its work.
Members of the Commission today presented the new Schools Charter to trade union chiefs.
It has agreed the following:
- no paramilitary organisations will become involved in any school dispute either between children or with teaching staff.
- Any child or parent threatening a member of staff under the guise of a loyalist paramilitary organisation does so without any substance.
- Schools must be ideologically, paramilitary and party political neutral environments.
The code of practice also calls for zero toleration of vandalism, anti-social behaviour and substance abuse in schools.
Last week, Secretary of State Dr John Reid disclosed he had met with clergymen who sit on the Commission as part of his efforts to further the peace process.
