THE "priest hero" who famously went to the defence of besieged Catholic schoolgirls in Belfast's Ardoyne after Loyalists attacks is moving against his wishes to Paris, as a chaplain to English-speaking residents there.Father Aidan Troy became a household name seven years ago during the highly-publicised Loyalist blockade of Holy Cross girls' primary school in the Catholic enclave of north Belfast.
As chairman of the school governors, the Wicklow-born cleric accompanied the young children to and from the school daily, sharing with them and their parents Loyalist jeers, missiles and even a blast bomb.
Fr Troy's move to Paris was decided by his religious superiors at a top-level meeting in Larne last June of the Order of Passionist priests, of which he is a member.
According to the Order, Fr Troy's move to Paris, one of the prestigious centres of the Order's worldwide missionary activities, is part of a routine change of personnel, but this is regarded as a promotion by his colleagues.
Yesterday, Fr Troy admitted that he would prefer to stay in his high-profile post in Belfast, but, as a religious who took the vow of obedience, he was bowing to the decision of his superiors.
Fr Troy, who wrote a best-selling book about his life and the dispute, said he he was "broken hearted" about leaving.
Obedience
"Paris would not have been my choice, but I was asked to take this move and one of the vows I have made is obedience, so I couldn't say no", he added.
He also admitted that he did not know why he was leaving Belfast. "They did not give any reason," he said, adding that he was now looking forward to his new call in Paris.
"There are other priests and ministers who have to change their postings and will not end up in as beautiful a city as I am going to.
"I was seven years in Rome before I came here, and when I was asked to come to Belfast, I thought it was the maddest suggestion. It has ended up being the best seven years of my life as a priest, and I have no hesitation in saying that."
Fr Troy last hit the headlines in January, when he publicly attacked Cardinal Desmond Connell's High Court move to prevent a government-appointed investigation into the Archdiocese of Dublin examining sensitive files on paedophile priests.
He praised the present Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin for doing "the honourable, correct and gospel thing" by releasing the sensitive files.
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