The rally was organised by the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).

BBC: Northern Ireland

Meanwhile, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions met senior police officers on Friday to discuss the school attacks.

BBC: Tight security as schools reopen

At the Belfast rally, organised by the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu), assistant general secretary Peter Bunting said Stormont must not "slavishly" cut back on the say-so of the government in London.

BBC: Anti-austerity marches take place