Republican News · Thursday 17 January 2002

McGuinness says unionist politicians must act

Sinn Féin Education minister Martin McGuinness convened an unprecedented meeting of teachers' unions and educational authorities on Monday to deal with the crisis facing schools given the resurgence of loyalist attacks in North Belfast and the resulting threats against teachers in Catholic schools.

The meeting unanimously agreed that the attacks were unacceptable and that schools should be considered inviolate. Calling for the threats to be lifted, the educationalists urged people in all sections of society to defend the right to education.

Speaking after the meeting, Martin McGuinness said: "Every child has a right to education. Teachers, pupils and parents must be free to travel to and from schools safe from harassment and there is an onus on everyone to defend that right. There are elements, particularly in the UDA, who are intent on orchestrating, creating and exploiting this situation. They have to be faced down."

McGuinness said that politicians from mainstreamunionist parties had been in denial about this sectarian campaign for too long. "They need to acknowledge what is happening and confront those responsible," he said.