Loyalists 'must end all violence'

Peter Hain and Ian Paisley met the schoolchildren

Loyalist paramilitaries must end their violence and allow democratic politics to move forward, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has urged.

Mr Hain was speaking on a visit to St Louis's Catholic Primary School in Ballymena, which was targeted by sectarian arsonists in August.

He was accompanied by the local MP, DUP leader Ian Paisley.

Mr Hain said: "Violence does not pay and progress will only be made when paramilitaries leave the stage."

Both men strongly condemned loyalist threats to desecrate Catholic graves at Carnmoney Cemetery in Newtownabbey on Sunday.

'Medieval throwback'

Mr Hain said the threat was a "medieval throwback to a past of violence and bigotry".

Mr Paisley said that those behind the threats had "no respect for the living or the dead", adding that no words of condemnation were strong enough.

They were speaking on a visit to St Louis's Primary School, more than a month after it was attacked by arsonists.

A primary seven classroom was destroyed in the fire

One classroom was destroyed and 10 others were damaged.

School principal Liam Corry said the children were "thrilled" to meet the two politicians.

"Mr Hain expressed his disgust at some of the things that happened at the end of the summer, but I think he realised that we're all moving on in these schools and we just want to leave all that behind us," he added.

At the end of August, extra police were put on guard outside Catholic churches and schools in the town, as sectarian attacks increased.

St Louis's Primary School was attacked just one day after nearby St Mary's Primary in the Harryville area was petrol bombed.

Thirty police officers were involved in Operation Striker, which covered 50 Catholic-owned properties, churches, schools and GAA sports grounds.

Vehicle checkpoints were set up in Ballymena, Ahoghill and Portglenone, while mobile patrols covered other locations.