A number of pupils have left the Holy Cross Catholic Girls Primary School in north Belfast as a result of the continuing dispute. There was speculation last night that a suspension of the protest as early as Monday might take place if talks between the two sides were to recommence. Yesterday's protest passed off peacefully, if still accompanied by insults and sirens.
The school's principal, Mrs Anne Tanney, said parents of nine or ten of the girls had taken their children to two nearby schools because of the stress caused by the daily escorted walk to the school.
The dispute, which is now in its fifth week, has seen pipe bombs, fireworks, bottles and balloons filled with urine thrown at parents, children and the RUC officers.
Some pupils have been prescribed calming medication while others have been receiving counselling. Some have begun wetting their beds since the protest began.
Mrs Tanney said the parents had said they would bring their children back to Holy Cross when the protest ended. Meanwhile, the parents walking to the school have handed a letter of protest to the RUC on its handling of the situation.
Ms Philomena Flood, a spokeswoman for the Right to Education group, said RUC officers were asking those walking to the school if they were in fact parents or guardians of the children. The RUC said that a number of Protestants had already appeared in court.