North Belfast was preparing itself for renewed violence last night, as attempts to secure a "cooling-off" period between both sides in the dispute surrounding Holy Cross School looked set for failure. The Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, is to return to the North today having cut short his holiday yesterday.
Tension remained high in Ardoyne, after a pipe-bomb explosion yesterday morning close to parents and children walking to the Holy Cross Primary School. Public meetings were held by both communities last night, in an effort to prevent a fourth day of confrontation.
A local DUP MP, Mr Nigel Dodds, repeated his call for "a cooling-off period", for parents to use the Crumlin Road school entrance and Protestant residents to call off their protest.
However, Father Aidan Troy, chairman of the board of governors, which also recommended parents temporarily use the rear entrance, last night admitted the option was "a non-runner" with parents. He said a large number of people would continue to use the Ardoyne Road entrance in the loyalist area.
The bomb was hurled from the loyalist Glenbryn Parade at the police forming a security corridor for the children. Four policemen were injured and two were hospitalised.
Last night Dr Reid said the name of Northern Ireland had been dragged through the mud once again by people of violence. "Children should not have to pay the price of the failure of adults to live together. Any legitimate grievances of protesters have been drowned out by this violent sectarian bigotry."
Three men still were being questioned last night in connection with the bombing. The Red Hand Defenders, a code name formerly used by the UDA and LVF, has claimed responsibility.
The PUP Assembly Member, Mr Billy Hutchinson, said he was "ashamed" to be a loyalist. "The terror on those children's faces was unbelievable. I was sickened to the pit of my stomach."
The Education Minister and Sinn Fein MP, Mr Martin McGuinness, said the bombers had their "hearts set" on destroying the peace process.
The Taoiseach yesterday described the violent protests on the road to the school as "deplorable and shameful". He said every child had the right to go to school in peace and safety, free from abuse and sectarian hatred.