Serious disorder in Ballymena, County Antrim left 15 police officers injured on the night of Monday, June 9th. Violence followed an earlier peaceful protest over an alleged local sexual assault.
While the police described the rioting as “racially-motivated hate attacks,” North Antrim MP Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice) said the “very distressing” violence occurred in the “context” of “significant demographic change in the area” because of “unfettered immigration.” Earlier that day, two teenage boys had appeared before Coleraine Magistrates’ Court accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl. They confirmed their names and ages through a Romanian-speaking interpreter, denying all charges.
One man was arrested during the rioting, while the deputy mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Tyler Hoey (Democratic Unionist Party) praised the “outstanding” support for the alleged victim’s family at the earlier protest—while adding that the violence and disorder “has to be condemned.”
Mass migration has increased tension south of the border, but is now also causing concern north of the border on the island.
