The priest who helped shield schoolgirls during the 2001 Holy Cross dispute in North Belfast has warned that the pain experienced during that sectarian conflict could occur again. Father Aidan Troy, who was the parish priest in Ardoyne at the time, stated that the possibility of a recurrence is what motivates his continued commitment to dialogue, justice, and care for others.
He described the 2001 dispute as "hatred at its worst." The conflict arose when loyalist protesters attempted to block the path of Catholic pupils and their parents on their way to the Holy Cross primary school. In response to the initial violence, authorities established crash barriers to create a corridor for the students. Images of frightened schoolgirls running between lines of armored police officers gained international attention.
Protestants involved in the demonstrations claimed that Catholics were attacking their homes and that the school protest was their method of voicing concerns. The unrest, which lasted for weeks, saw stones, bottles, fireworks, and a blast bomb thrown.
Father Troy, speaking on the 25th anniversary of the school's founding, emphasized that "none of us want to see hatred." The events of 2001 left many, particularly the young students, traumatized. 
