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Feud children 'speak of suicide' Feud children 'speak of suicide'
(about 3 hours later)
Some primary schools pupils affected by a loyalist feud feel "life is not worth living", a leading Belfast principal has said.Some primary schools pupils affected by a loyalist feud feel "life is not worth living", a leading Belfast principal has said.
Drug use in the Shankill area in the west of the city has now spread to children as young as P4, according to teachers. Drug use in the Shankill area in the west of the city has now spread to children as young as eight, according to teachers.
Betty Orr, headteacher at Edenbrooke Primary on Tennant Street, said many children had been traumatised.Betty Orr, headteacher at Edenbrooke Primary on Tennant Street, said many children had been traumatised.
Some acted out riots and murders in the playground.Some acted out riots and murders in the playground.
Pupils at the school were among hundreds who were put out of their homes during an internal UDA feud in 2000.Pupils at the school were among hundreds who were put out of their homes during an internal UDA feud in 2000.
One school in the lower Shankill area lost about 50 pupils at the time of the feud, which involved former UDA paramilitary Johnny Adair.One school in the lower Shankill area lost about 50 pupils at the time of the feud, which involved former UDA paramilitary Johnny Adair.
They were drawing it, they were acting it out in the playground, by forming riots - just this year, even in play in P1, they were acting out murder scenes Betty OrrThey were drawing it, they were acting it out in the playground, by forming riots - just this year, even in play in P1, they were acting out murder scenes Betty Orr
Ms Orr, who last month addressed the Labour Party conference in Manchester, said a number of pupils every year since 2000 had told her that they feel life is not worth living.Ms Orr, who last month addressed the Labour Party conference in Manchester, said a number of pupils every year since 2000 had told her that they feel life is not worth living.
"There is something seriously wrong when primary pupils are talking about suicide," she told the Belfast Telegraph newspaper."There is something seriously wrong when primary pupils are talking about suicide," she told the Belfast Telegraph newspaper.
Many children had witnessed violence on the streets and this affected them when they came into school, she said.Many children had witnessed violence on the streets and this affected them when they came into school, she said.
She told the BBC's Nolan Show: "They were drawing it, they were acting it out in the playground, by forming riots.She told the BBC's Nolan Show: "They were drawing it, they were acting it out in the playground, by forming riots.
"Just this year, even in play in P1, they were acting out murder scenes."Just this year, even in play in P1, they were acting out murder scenes.
"What happened as a result of the feud and the expulsion of 'C' Company (Adair's faction) and the riots last year (following the disputed Whiterock parade) was that children's behaviour changed immediately after that.""What happened as a result of the feud and the expulsion of 'C' Company (Adair's faction) and the riots last year (following the disputed Whiterock parade) was that children's behaviour changed immediately after that."
'Resulting behaviours''Resulting behaviours'
Several other schools had experienced similar behaviour in pupils, said Ms Orr.Several other schools had experienced similar behaviour in pupils, said Ms Orr.
"We have a very strong principals' group and we discuss these things on a regular basis."We have a very strong principals' group and we discuss these things on a regular basis.
"The difficulty is that there were things happened way back in 2000... there were 300 families who were put out of their homes."The difficulty is that there were things happened way back in 2000... there were 300 families who were put out of their homes.
"If you have even two in each family, that is 600 children potentially affected by that."If you have even two in each family, that is 600 children potentially affected by that.
Johnny Adair was expelled from the UDA in 2002Johnny Adair was expelled from the UDA in 2002
"The resulting behaviours and the things that happened since then have seriously damaged the mental health of a lot of children and we are only coming out of it now.""The resulting behaviours and the things that happened since then have seriously damaged the mental health of a lot of children and we are only coming out of it now."
Ms Orr said things had improved since the feud, but the schools had been badly affected.Ms Orr said things had improved since the feud, but the schools had been badly affected.
However, she added: "We have absolutely delightful children - and that would be true all over the Shankill... that is why all of us stay in this area."However, she added: "We have absolutely delightful children - and that would be true all over the Shankill... that is why all of us stay in this area."
The bloody feud within the UDA led to the murders of several people.The bloody feud within the UDA led to the murders of several people.
Johnny Adair and his associate John White were expelled from the UDA leadership in September 2002, causing a split in the organisation.Johnny Adair and his associate John White were expelled from the UDA leadership in September 2002, causing a split in the organisation.