Priest: Northern Irish Catholics relieved British military have left

Published: 2007-08-01

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (CNS) -- A Belfast-based Passionist priest said Northern Irish Catholics feel "joy and relief" that British military operations in the region have come to an end. Father Aidan Troy, known for his mediation role in the 2001 Holy Cross Girls' Primary School dispute when Protestant protesters blocked access to the school, told Catholic News Service he hopes that "children in the North will never again have to witness the spectacle of armed troops patrolling the streets." In the Catholic community, "there (have been) obviously mixed feelings. But we're overwhelmingly relieved that operations have come to an end," said the priest at Holy Cross Parish in the working-class Ardoyne suburb of Belfast. Father Troy said he hoped that the end of Operation Banner would mark the end of "a very sad chapter in the history of Ireland." He said, "If there's a positive note to this whole affair, it's that the troops are saying goodbye to a much better Ireland than the one they came to 38 years ago."

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