Alliance Party office in Carrick torched by loyalist mob

THE PSNI was back on the streets of Northern Ireland on Thursday evening as loyalists protested over the removal of the Union flag at Belfast City Hall.

A plea by DUP First Minister Peter Robinson for the protests to be suspended have fallen on deaf ears.

The first protest started at Justice Minister and Alliance Party leader David Ford’s office in Glengormley as riot cops looked on.

Pupils at Hightown Primary School in Glengormley were allowed home at lunchtime to avoid the protest.

A further protest started in Ballymena and also one at Hesketh Road in north Belfast.

Earlier, staff at the Boys Model School in north Belfast were sent home home early because of a planned protest in Ballysillan on Thursday evening.

Police are expecting other protests in Carrickfergus and Newtownards on Thursday evening as loyalists plan to stretch PSNI resources to their limit.

An Alliance Party recall of the Assembly to discuss attacks on party offices in Carrickfergus and Bangor, along with a paint bomb attack on the home of two councillors did not receive the backing the DUP, UUP and Sinn Fein.

Instead, a joint statement from the First Minister and deputy first minister will be read out on Monday morning at the Assembly.