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Holy Cross dispute priest warns 'hurt' could happen again 25 years on

Fr Aidan Troy, who helped shield schoolgirls during the 2001 Holy Cross dispute, has stated that the "hurt" of that ordeal could reoccur.

  • Fr Aidan Troy described the 2001 sectarian dispute as "hatred at its worst".
  • The dispute involved loyalist protesters attempting to block Catholic school pupils and parents on their way to Holy Cross primary school in north Belfast.
  • Around 100 pupils required counselling due to the daily ordeal, according to the principal at the time.

Fr Aidan Troy, who was a parish priest in Ardoyne during the 2001 Holy Cross dispute, has warned that the "hurt" experienced during that time could happen again. Speaking on the 25th anniversary of the events, he described the sectarian dispute as "hatred at its worst".

The dispute in north Belfast saw loyalist protesters attempt to block Catholic school pupils and their parents on their route to Holy Cross primary school. Images of schoolgirls navigating a corridor of armoured police officers to reach their school were broadcast globally.

Fr Aidan stated that while the exact form of the events might not be repeated, the possibility of similar "hurt" remains. He highlighted that approximately 100 pupils needed counselling due to their daily ordeal, according to Anne Tanney, the principal at the time.

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