Racist attacks in Belfast

[Lar Naparka]

Can someone open a poll....what's worse, twitter or the daily mail?

Why not do it yourself, Chris?

[Minder]

Has a rally been organised at the City Hall yet so we can "unite against this scourge" ?

Later than i thought

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8110950.stm

[Evil Genius]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/8112828.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8112688.stm

Whilst in now way "justifying" or excusing the despicable attacks on those Romanian people (nothing can), these two reports from today alone demonstrate that bitterness and hatred are hardly the preserve of one community in NI. In particular, attempting to burn down a hall whilst 300 people are inside is utterly shocking.

The more I think about it, the more I agree Ziggy got it right when he posted:

"I'm ashamed and embarrassed of my fellow Irish man and woman in Belfast. This is disgraceful behaviour. The poor Romanians are coming to the north for a better live.

However I am also disgusted as to how the reasoning on this thread has turned.

This is NOT a Protestant v Catholic issuse. It's not even a Protestant v immigrant issuse. It IS a scum v decent people issue"

[longrunsthefox]

It'sd crowd of loyalists who always had connections to Combat 18. That night in Windsor Park it was Paul McGrath got the worst abuse of the lot... racist bile.   

[ziggysego]

Would Romania be a soccer country? If it isn't, there wouldn't be much to it.

Did you watch Italia 90 or USA 94?

Or France '98/Euro 2000 when they beat the Englanders (thanks Phil Neville)

Na, don't follow soccer.

[DennistheMenace]

One hundred Romanians who fled their homes in Belfast after a spate of recent attacks have decided to leave Northern Ireland and return to Romania.

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said 25 people had already left and 75 were going to leave as soon as they could, 14 will stay in NI.

Meanwhile, a man has been remanded in custody charged with intimidating Romanian people in Belfast.

Shane Murphy, 21, of Donegall Road in the city, denies the charge.

His solicitor, who had applied for bail on his client's behalf, said Mr Murphy also denied a further charge of acting provocatively by shouting racist comments at a rally held on Lisburn Road in the city last week.

The judge, sitting at Belfast Magistrates Court, refused a bail application because he said there was a danger Mr Murphy could interfere with witnesses.

On Monday, a 15-year-old boy appeared in court charged in connection with the same incidents.

A 16-year-old boy appeared alongside him accused of provocative behaviour at the anti-racism rally.

The Housing Executive is paying for the families, members of the Roma ethnic group, to return to Romania using emergency funds.

A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities said it was likely the remaining families would leave before the end of the week.

Police have arrested three men in connection with the church attack

"We have all spoken to the the Romanian families and the majority of them want to go home," he said.

City Church, which last week provided temporary overnight shelter for the ethnic Roma, was targeted by vandals on Monday night.

Three men, all aged 20, have been arrested in connection with the attack.

Pastor Malcolm Morgan said the church was covered in broken glass.

"I arrived this morning to find windows smashed at the front of our church and our main glass doorway smashed as well," he said.

"Stones were lying scattered on the floor inside and outside and obviously broken glass was everywhere.

"It would be easy to conclude it was carried out by someone who didn't like our response to the Romanians, but that is only guess work.

"We were just so thrilled that we were able to respond to the Romanian situation and these broken windows wouldn't have stopped us anyway."

Windows at the church were broken
The church provided shelter for about 20 Romanian familes

Mrs Ritchie said she was saddened, but not shocked at the incident.

"The action of these mindless thugs greatly contrasts with the outpouring of warmth and generosity demonstrated by the people of Belfast toward the plight of the Romanians," she said.

"This church community was the first to extend the hand of friendship and that makes it doubly disgraceful that it should be attacked."

On Monday night, another two youths, aged 16 and 17, were arrested in connection with provocative conduct and intimidation.

Police do not believe paramilitaries were involved in last week's attacks, which were condemned by all political parties.

[nifan]

15 and 16 year olds.
i wonder will their parents do anything other than claim they are the victims here?

[Archie Mitchell]

Less rose sellers outside The Bot then.

[imtommygunn]

were the 15 and 16 year olds not coming out of a bar?

they should do the bar while they're there. Scummy hole that place.

[longrunsthefox]

Less rose sellers outside The Bot then.

I've never seen 5 day old babies selling roses Archie but whatever floats your racist boat...

[Minder]

Less rose sellers outside The Bot then.

Hardstation will be a relieved man as there was one that stood at the bottom of the steps to the First Trust cash machine in Andytown. I suppose it was a good tactic as when I withdraw money I  always looking for a beggar to slip them a crisp twenty.

[DennistheMenace]

Bet you slipped them worse.

[Minder]

Bet you slipped them worse.

Oh matron

[fred the red]

were the 15 and 16 year olds not coming out of a bar?

they should do the bar while they're there. Scummy hole that place.

what bar was it?

[Square Ball]

So they go home, who wins?