Clashes hit first day of term in Belfast.PROTESTANTS clashed with police in north Belfast today as they attempted to block the route of Catholic children attending school near a sectarian interface. A crowd of up to 200 protesters were held back by troops and RUC RUC Royal Ulster Constabulary: a former name for the Police Service of Northern Ireland RUC n abbr (= Royal Ulster Constabulary) → fuerza de policía en Irlanda del Norte RUC (Brit officers who used screens and riot shields to form a pathway for the terrified ter·ri·fy tr.v. ter·ri·fied, ter·ri·fy·ing, ter·ri·fies 1. To fill with terror; make deeply afraid. See Synonyms at frighten. 2. To menace or threaten; intimidate. youngsters and their parents to Holy Cross Primary School. It was the first day of the new term and trouble flared after attempts failed over the holidays to try to negotiate a settlement between the two sides following violence in the area earlier this year. Later, police and Protestants fought running battles as the security forces pushed the protesters back. Belfast Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers criticised the RUC's handling of the situation after claiming to have been assaulted. Billy Hutchinson Billy Hutchinson was a leading member of the Progressive Unionist Party in Northern Ireland. He was elected to Belfast City Council in 1997 and to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1998 However he lost his assembly seat in 2003 and his council seat in 2005. , a Northern Ireland Assembly For earlier bodies of the same name, see Northern Ireland Assembly (disambiguation). The Northern Ireland Assembly (Irish: Tionól Thuaisceart Éireann,[1] Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann Semmlie[2] member with the Loyalist Progressive Unionists, was also angry at the security operation. He said: "When the RUC provide a guard of honour A ceremonial Guard of honour is a military practice to honour the fallen in war and a ceremony for public figures who have died. It is also a practice in sport. for well-known Provisionals then it's a sad day." At one stage, police drew batons to shift the protesters. Missiles were also hurled. The Protestants jeered and shouted abuse as the children and parents from the republican Ardoyne district were escorted to the school. CAPTION(S): SHOCKING: Protestants clash with police in riot gear riot gear n → uniforme m antidisturbios inv riot gear n in riot gear → casqué et portant un bouclier riot gear n in north Belfast as they tried to stop Catholic children from attending Holy Cross primary school in the republican Ardoyne district |
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