Protestants mounted a noisy protest today as scores of Catholic girls walked a gauntlet of hatred for a fourth day toenter a Belfast school. Hundreds of Protestants, separated from the children by a tight cordon of police in fullriot gear, blew whistles and horns and turned their backs to make clear the girls were not welcome in the Protestantstreet leading to the front gate of their Catholic school.

But there was no repeat of the hurling of the pipe bomb or of the rock and stone throwing which erupted on Wednesdayas the girls, some as young as four, walked with their parents to school behind the police lines.

Protestant leaders said they were pleased there was no violence on Thursday, after images of weeping and terrifiedschoolgirls shocked the world.

Guest:

• Susan Breen, reporter, Irish Times.