Belfast priest warns of potential for renewed sectarian hatred

On the 25th anniversary of the Holy Cross dispute, Fr Aidan Troy, the priest who helped protect schoolgirls during the 2001 sectarian unrest in north Belfast, has warned that such hatred could happen again.

The dispute involved loyalist protesters attempting to block the route of Catholic pupils and their parents walking to Holy Cross Primary School. The period was marked by violence, including the throwing of stones, bottles, fireworks, and a blast bomb. To ensure safety, police and the Army eventually established a protected corridor using crash barriers.

Fr Troy, who served as the parish priest in Ardoyne at the time, described the experience as “hatred at its worst.” He emphasized that recounting the story is not about assigning blame, but about making a collective commitment to prevent such demeaning treatment of children from recurring. He noted that while the shock of the event serves as a deterrent, the possibility of renewed tension remains a concern.