PRESIDENT MARY McAleese successfully visited a primary school in Co Derry despite a loyalist protest and an alleged campaign of intimidation.
Mrs McAleese and her husband, Dr Martin McAleese, arrived at Millburn primary school in Coleraine amid a small but noisy protest involving about 30 adults and children.
Many wore Rangers football shirts and waved Union and Ulster flags while others shouted sectarian abuse including "F**k off home, republican scum".
Others booed and shouted "No surrender" and "Fenian bastards". Placards referred to remarks made by the President in 2005 in which she said some Northern Ireland children were taught to hate in the same manner as in Nazi Germany. She later apologised.
Protesters also complained that arrangements for the visit were made without sufficient local consultation. School principal John Platt claimed those opposed to the visit were a tiny minority who were out of touch with mainstream opinion. He said some who helped organise the visit had been intimidated by opponents who had used "strong language" in their efforts to stop it.
Another small group of onlookers stood apart from the protest to watch the presidential convoy make its way through the loyalist estate towards the school. There was also a small police presence.
Mr Platt claimed the protest was orchestrated by an unnamed individual who was not from the locality. "He is making all sorts of serious accusations and he has tried to move himself up the ladder of command [locally]." However, Mr Platt added: "The huge majority is not supporting him." Pointing out the group of onlookers standing apart from the protesters, he said: "These people over here tell me they are here to see the President and they are very keen to see her. They would love the President to go over to talk to them but obviously she's not going to be able to because of these protest." He also rejected complaints that he had called them "bigots".
The presidential party stayed at the school for about 40 minutes, during which they were entertained by the school choir and met members of the board of governors, local representatives and teachers.
According to school staff the mood was relaxed and positive. They added that the visit helped to boost the standing of the school and its efforts to provide a forward-looking and innovative education for young children. The visit by the President was "a fantastic compliment".
David McClarty, a local Ulster Unionist Assembly member and deputy Assembly speaker, praised Mrs McAleese. "She has done more to stretch out the hand of friendship across the divide over the years. I know that on July 12th every year for a number of years she has had a 'mini Twelfth' at Áras an Uachtaráin. What more can she do to extend that hand of friendship?"
SDLP Assembly member John Dallat backed the principal's claims that intimidation had been used by loyalists. "We cannot let a new generation of children have feelings of fear or of hate," he said.
Mrs McAleese left the school without comment to complete her list of engagements in Co Derry amid a much reduced protest at the school gates.