DUP attempt to undermine McGuinness
By Padraig MacDabhaid
Newly appointed Education Minister Martin McGuinness has said that he
will not be deflected from carrying out his work by the DUP-organised
protests carried out by children from schools over the past week. The
protests, he said, ``are politically motivated by elements within the
DUP''.
d despite DUP denials, a number of leading DUP figures, including
Ian Paisley Jnr, Gardiner Kane and Jim Wells, have been present during
the protests.
DUP Assembly member Ian Paisley Jnr, said of the pupils' protests:
``I'm more than happy to salute them for what they've done and to
encourage them to keep up this protest.'' The DUP's Sammy Wilson, who
is the vice-chair of the Education Committee, also said he ``encouraged
parents and pupils who have shown their opposition''.
McGuinness has reiterated his determination to work for all children,
saying: ``As far as I am concerned, they are our children also, and my
job as Education Minister is to press on and try to give them the best
education that I possibly can.''
What is clear from the protests is that the DUP are determined to
inject sectarianism into the education system, poisoning young minds
at a time when adults have begun to turn their backs on Paisley's
brand of sectarianism.
That sectarianism was there for all to see in Ballymoney, where
schoolchildren carrying Union Jacks and loyalist flags sang `The Billy
Boys' about ``being up to our necks in Fenian Blood, surrender or
you'll die''.
d while the DUP was congratulating those protesting, Kilrea resident
Francis McWilliams explained how his wife and child were terrified by
around 70 youths protesting in Ballymoney.
``Myself, my wife and child were shopping in Ballymoney town centre
when around 70 pupils from Ballymoney High stormed the town centre in
school uniform, singing sectarian songs. A number of youths were
carrying loyalist flags and shouting threats against the nationalist
residents of Dunloy. I could clearly hear chants of `We won't let no
Fenian teach us Irish'.''
The principal of Ballymoney High, Wilfred Ridge, admitted to being at
the protest but claimed that he was only there to supervise it.
Similar scenes have been reported in Kilkeel, Cookstown, Glengormley,
Portadown, Newtownabbey and Belfast. On the Ballysillan Road in North
Belfast, protesting pupils carrying loyalist flags, some wearing UVF
memorabilia, blocked roads and attacked a Catholic school and a bus
carrying pupils from the school.
The latest walkout took place on Wednesday, 8 December, again in North
Belfast. Sinn Féin councillor Danny Lavery condemned the DUP for
encouraging schoolchildren from Castle High to march towards
Whitewell, an area that has been the target of numerous loyalist
attacks.
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