Republican News · Thursday 27 March 2002

PSNI block plans for Irish school

A North Belfast Irish language school has had plans to relocate on the Cliftonville Road blocked by the PSNI.

The PSNI objected to the plans on security grounds even though they didn't lodge any objections with the Department of Environment (DOE) last June when they were invited to do so.

The PSNI objections to Bunscoil Bhean Mhadagain only came after Cliftonville Primary school contacted them on 7 March. The Cliftonville Primary school, one of whose governors is DUP councillor Nelson McCausland, also objected to the plans.

The PSNI said that if the school is built on the Cliftonville playing fields opposite the mixed Cliftonville Primary school, it is likely to lead to confrontation and public disorder and they have even tried to link the events of the Holy Cross school blockade to their objections.

The Bunscoil Bhean Mhadagain is currently only 100 yards away from Cliftonville Primary school and the objections have caused outrage amongst North Belfast's Irish speaking community.

The principal of Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagain, Eamann Ó Ceallaigh, said he will be lodging an official complaint with the Police Ombudsman's office over the behaviour of the PSNI towards the school.

"There are Catholic parents who collect their children from Cliftonville Primary school and there have not been any difficulties in the past. For the PSNI to now suggest that parents will fight with each other because they are close to one another is absurd. This is a completely unreasonable objection and will hamper the education of 127 young children."

He said the school would not be prevented from providing pupils with the best possible education.

The Department of Education approved plans for a new build to Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagain on the site because of ever growing pupil numbers.