Sinn Fein/IRA orchestrated areas of conflict

Glenbryn

Children escape injury in missiles attack

A party of children as young as three-years-old escaped injury yesterday when they were attacked with bricks and bottles as they waited to board a bus in north Belfast, a Protestant community group claimed.

The Greater Glenbryn Community Initiative said around 30 children from the Upper Ardoyne area were targeted by a nationalist gang of youths as they were about to board a bus at Glenbryn Park at lunchtime.

Community worker Mark Coulter said: ‘‘All of the Protestant children were hysterical and had to be ushered away to safety. "Some were traumatised and were unable to take part in the day trip, although there were no physical injuries." Mr Coulter said he was furious at what had happened, particularly as police had been notified of the trip in advance and had given assurances that a patrol would in at the interface from noon to prevent any such attack.

He added: "This was not an interface incident – nationalist youths are crossing the interface and coming right into Glenbryn to attack children. "If police do not have the manpower to protect our children, then they have no choice but to recommend some sort of barrier to bring this torture to an end." Mr Coulter said the incident was one of over 30 which have taken place near where police CCTV cameras were installed at the start of the year and claimed police "appear to be ignoring what is going on". Published: 11/11/2002 Newsletter