Republican News · Thursday 7 May 1998

[An Phoblacht]

RUC `survey' Catholic schools

North Belfast Sinn Féin Councillor Danny Lavery has criticised the principals and teachers of two Catholic secondary schools who allowed the RUC to conduct a survey among their sixth formers.

Lavery speaking after Sinn Fein received a copy of the questionnaire which was supplied to pupils of St Patrick's on the Antrim Road and St Gemma's in Ardoyne as well as the Protestant Boys and Girls Model schools told AP/RN, ``the principals and teachers of St Gemmas and St Patricks should have more sense given the record of the RUC in our communities over the years.''

Lavery called on parents not to allow their children to co-operate with RUC stunts such as these. ``The RUC killed Seamus Duffy, a local schoolboy, with a plastic bullet and they regularly stop and search youngsters going and coming from school in acts of blatant sectarian intimidation'', stated Lavery.

The RUC survey was conducted by a `Community Affairs Unit' from Antrim Road RUC barracks and its objective, was to ``identify'' the type and frequency of contact with RUC, how sixth formers rate the approach of RUC officers and if sixth formers think the RUC have a good understanding of the views of young people.

The survey also asked how important it is for the RUC to improve their relationships with young people and what sixth formers view as the most important areas of police work.

``Children are not stupid and can recognise what the RUC mobile support units are. One day its the `community cop', the next its the same person wielding an automatic rifle and plastic bullet gun'', concluded an angry Lavery.

Meanwhile it has become known that the RUC and British army are to visit St Gemma's this Friday, May 8. Local councillors Bobby Lavery and Mick Conlon have sought an urgent meeting with St Gemma's principal Cecelia McCluskey to protest at what they see as ``a dangerous crown forces propaganda stunt''.


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