Ex-soldiers charged with 1972 shootings seek review of prosecutions
Alan Erwin, Belfast Telegraph, June 12th, 2025
PPS URGED TO LOOK AT CASES OF QUARTET WHO SAY THEY ARE UNFIT TO STAND TRIAL
Four former soldiers charged over shootings in Belfast more than 50 years ago have sought a review of the decision to prosecute them, a court has heard.
Requests were made on behalf of the Army veterans following medical assessments that three of them are unfit for the first stage in a trial process.
The ex-servicemen face charges related to incidents at the height of the Troubles.
One, referred to as Soldier F, is accused of the murder of Patrick McVeigh.
He is also being prosecuted for the attempted murder of four other people during the same incident on May 13, 1972.
Three of his former colleagues, identified only as Soldiers B, C and D, are jointly charged with attempting to murder another two men in a separate incident a day earlier. The defendants were part of an undercover Army unit known as the Military Reaction Force which operated in Belfast at the time.
Members of the MRF used unmarked cars to patrol parts of the city before the outfit was disbanded the following year.
Mr McVeigh, a father of six, was shot at the junction of Finaghy Road North and Riverdale Park South.
He had reportedly stopped to speak to those manning a civilian checkpoint when the gunfire began.
Four other men were shot and wounded in the incident.
The previous day's shooting occurred at Slievegallion Drive in west Belfast. Decisions were taken to charge the former soldiers after the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) examined evidence gathered in a police investigation.
Medical Reports
It emerged previously that medical reports prepared for Soldiers C, D and F assessed them as unfit to take part in a preliminary enquiry to have them returned for trial.
At Belfast Magistrates' Court yesterday counsel for the trio disclosed: “We have also written to the PPS asking them to review the decision to prosecute in relation to those three.”
A similar request is understood to have been made on behalf of Soldier B.
A prosecution lawyer said more detailed medical reports were being sought in response to the move.
The PPS also plans to obtain its own expert report on the defendants' capacity to answer statutory questions.
Adjourning proceedings until next month, District Judge Steven Keown suggested an alternative legal method could be explored to advance the case.
He said: “I do think serious consideration should be given to the voluntary bill... moving the case to the Crown Court at an earlier stage where it is in a better place to assess fitness to stand trial.”
Petition to 'protect veterans' passes 100,000 signtures need for Parlt debate
By Adam Kula, Belfast News Letter, June 12th, 2025
A petition calling for Troubles veterans to be protected from prosecution has smashed through its target for the number of supporters, securing a debate on the subject in Parliament.
The Northern Ireland Veterans' Commissioner David Johnstone has told the News Letter it is a "tremendous achievement".
The News Letter reported on the existence of the online petition last month, noting that within its first three days it had garnered over 30,000 signatures.
Once a petition hits 100,000 signatures, there is an obligation to debate it in Parliament.
Now it has received 135,000 signatures – and has also generated a response from the government.
Its wording was as follows: "We think that the government should not make any changes to legislation that would allow Northern Ireland veterans to be prosecuted for doing their duty in combating terrorism as part of 'Operation Banner'."
It was tabled amid uncertainty about the future of the Legacy Act, brought in by the former Tory government to bar prosecutions for Troubles-era offences and close down inquests into deaths.
It came amid concerns that the actions of the state, as opposed to the far bloodier actions of paramilitaries, were being disproportionately put under the spotlight.
But some of the Act has since been declared unlawful, and Labour plans to repeal parts of it.
In response to the petition passing the 100,000 threshold, the government has said: "This government's commitment to our Armed Forces community is unshakeable. Veterans who served in Operation Banner ultimately helped bring about the peace that Northern Ireland now enjoys and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude.
"We will always recognise the extreme circumstances under which our Armed Forces were operating during Operation Banner; the split second judgements that had to be made, and the restraint that was so often required in the face of danger. There will be no rewriting of history.
"The approach taken by the last government to the legacy of the Troubles was wrong.
"The Legacy Act – which would have also given immunity to terrorists – has been found to be unlawful and was opposed by many, including families who lost relatives whilst serving in Northern Ireland. Any government would have to repeal unlawful legislation…
Govt is discussion with ‘all parties’
"As the government prepares new legislation, the secretary of state for Northern Ireland will continue to discuss this issue with all interested parties. The government owes it to those who were affected by the Troubles across the United Kingdom, including our Armed Forces community, to get this right."
Mr Johnstone said he had "fully anticipated" the petition would "sail through" its target.
"It's because I'm aware of the strength of feeling among the veteran community regarding legacy," said Mr Johnstone, adding that it was a particularly "tremendous achievement" because the petition had come "with no warning or build-up".
Regarding the government's response, he said: "If you look at that statement, my initial response as you read 'our commitment to the Armed Forces is unshakeable' is well, actions speak louder than words.
"The policy they are currently seeking to follow... is facilitating the republican movement's attempt to rewrite history.
"It is facilitating and in many ways encouraging the republican movement's strategy of lawfare."
As such, "the statement of 'no rewriting of history' is not credible," he said.
Ballymena: Three rioters aged 18, 17 and 15 charged with disorder
By Gemma Murray
Published 12th Jun 2025, 09:50 BST
Three males have been charged to court following disorder in Ballymena on Tuesday, 10th June.
One man, aged 18, and two teenage boys, aged 15 and 17, have been charged with riot.
The 15-year-old has also been charged with criminal damage.
They are expected to appear before Ballymena Magistrates Court today, Thursday 12th June.
Two other teenage boys who were arrested during the disorder have been released on bail to allow for further police enquiries.
Ballymena riots demand a clear and united response - The Irish News view
By The Irish News, June 12th, 2025
The disgraceful scenes of violence and rioting in Ballymena this week deserve to be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
It is the latest example of the alarming rise in race-related intimidation and thuggery to be felt on our streets. It also shows that last summer’s attacks on businesses in the Sandy Row area of south Belfast were not a one-off.
This is as worrying as it is depressing. The same toxic voices - amplified on social media - which have stoked and exploited racial tensions elsewhere, whether in Dublin or in English cities, across Europe or in the United States, are now being given a hearing in Northern Ireland.
Although there is no simple answer to this problem, events in Ballymena - and to a lesser extent in north Belfast, Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus, where disorder also broke out - must prompt a series of strong responses.
Political leadership is desperately needed to rebuff the false claims of those stir up hatred and violence against ‘the other’. Some form of united front from the full range of political representatives, especially the Stormont executive parties, would have positive symbolism.
It is therefore dispiriting that Sinn Féin first minister Michelle O’Neill said she had been advised against visiting the scene of the violence in Ballymena by the PSNI, for fear of causing “even more kind of kickback”.
The suggestion appears to be that the republican Ms O’Neill would not be wise to visit the predominantly unionist Co Antrim town when tensions are already running high. What a damning, if accurate, indictment of the state of community relations in the north in 2025.
The rhetoric of the malign voices who inflame tensions and spark violence must be met by better, positive arguments.
Nonetheless, a clear message has gone out from serious political leaders in Northern Ireland, as well as those in Dublin and London, that the disorder must stop. The executive said that the rioters offer nothing but “division and disorder”.
The violence has also emphasised the pressure that the PSNI faces. More than 30 officers have been injured and the PSNI has requested support from colleagues in Britain, including 80 officers and vehicles, under ‘mutual aid’ arrangements.
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher is correct when he says that the violence risks undermining the criminal justice process into an allegation of a sex attack on a teenage girl in Ballymena.
The rhetoric of the malign voices to inflame tensions and spark violence must be met by better, positive arguments.
Communities across Ireland have been enormously enhanced by those who have come from elsewhere to make their homes here. We need to celebrate their contributions, whether that be caring for the sick in hospitals or offering vital expertise in factories, and reclaim our reputation as the land of céad míle fáilte.
Lyons insists he will not resign following criticism of social media post
By Jonathan McCambridge and Cillian Sherlock, PA, Belfast News Letter, June 12th, 2025
Northern Ireland's Communities Minister has insisted he will not resign following criticism of a social media post sent hours before an attack on Larne Leisure Centre.
Gordon Lyons said he would "strongly hit back at any notion" that he had publicly revealed the facility was being used to house immigrant families who had been affected by violence in Ballymena .
Masked youths attacked the leisure centre on Wednesday night and set it on fire.
Prior to the fire, Mr Lyons posted on social media that the building had been used to accommodate several people following riotous behaviour in the town of Ballymena , which is 30 minutes away.
Police said that ethnic minorities have been targeted in the violence which they have described as "racist thuggery".
Mr Lyons' post said: "As a local MLA for the area, neither I nor my DUP council colleagues were made aware or consulted on this decision until late this afternoon."
He added: "It has now been confirmed to us by the PSNI and council that all these individuals are in the care of the Housing Executive and have been moved out of Larne.
"Protesting is of course a legitimate right but violence is not and I would encourage everyone to remain peaceful."
Some politicians have said Mr Lyons should be considering his position and Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said it was not helpful to publicise where people had been moved.
Mr Lyons was asked by the BBC Good Morning Ulster programme if he should still be in his job and replied: "Absolutely."
He said: "Let me set out the facts because it is clear that some don't know them.
"The leisure centre was used to temporarily house those who had been affected by the violence in Ballymena .
"This had been confirmed yesterday publicly. It was in the public domain, it was on a news website and it had been confirmed by the council.
"My message was posted because rumours had been circulating that the leisure centre was to be turned into a permanent centre, the messages flying about that caravans were being brought into the car park there.
"A protest had already been planned at 7pm last evening.
Minister’s remarks referred to standards commissioner by SDLP
"The PSNI was then in contact with one of our local councillors and they were keen that we highlight the fact that the leisure centre was no longer being used for this purpose, they wanted to stop the rumours that people were being permanently housed there and all of that was the catalyst for the protest.
"As a result of that, I posted a clarification that the centre had been used but that was temporary and was no longer being used for that purpose."
Mr Lyons said he believed it was right that public representatives should be consulted when emergency protocols are put in place.
He said: "I believe that information is key here so that rumours don't circulate around.
"I will very strongly hit back at any notion that I have revealed the use of this facility to the public when the protest was already planned, when everybody knew what was happening."
Mr Benn said: "If people have been forced out of their homes, they need to be taken to a place of safety and they need to be looked after because they will be traumatised and they will be frightened.
"I don't think it helps matters at all to publicise where they have been taken."
Police come under attack during third night of disorder in Ballymena
Matthew O'Toole , leader of the opposition in the Northern Ireland Assembly , said he would refer Mr Lyons' social media post to the standards commissioner.
Alliance Party MLA Danny Donnelly said there had been a "huge attack" in Larne.
He added: "If I was the minister I would be considering my position.
"I think he should seriously consider his position.
"Highlighting the location of where immigrant families who had been burnt out were taken to a place of safety on social media was reckless and dangerous, and it certainly was a factor in that protest.
"The result we have had, the town has been attacked by a racist mob."
Sinn Fein MLA Colm Gildernew said Mr Lyons' post was "reckless and inflammatory".
He added: "Leadership should show responsibility - not feed into the fear of the vulnerable."
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said the leisure centre had been designated as an emergency rest centre for those in urgent need following disturbances in nearby Ballymena but the families had been safely relocated elsewhere.
Police and firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control on Wednesday night.
The fire in Larne coincided with a third night of public disorder in Ballymena .
The violence began around Clonavon Terrace on Monday night following an earlier peaceful protest which was organised in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the area.
Two teenage boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, have been charged.
Violence ‘not linked to paramilitaries’
Allan Preston, Irish News, June 12th, 2025
POLICE have said they do not currently believe paramilitaries are behind violent scenes this week on the streets of Ballymena.
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said social media can “ferment hatred” and prolong incidents of disorder.
“We are absolutely prepared that we may see more of this in the coming days,” he said.
Advising those involved in the rioting to stay home, he also assured the public there would be a strong police presence on the ground.
“I don’t want people to feel that their daily lives should be disrupted by the threats and thuggery that we have seen on the streets,” he told the BBC.
ACC Henderson said he was already exploring options for getting extra help from police services across the UK under the mutual aid programme if the situation continues to escalate.
Asked if paramilitaries were behind the riots, he said: “At this point, we’re not seeing intelligence information to say that paramilitaries are directly involved or coordinating this behaviour. But I’m not afraid to call that out if we do see it, and of course as our investigation goes on if we see that, that will be the case.
“This feels to me that is very sporadic. It is very much being driven by, and you will have seen it on the media, there are significant numbers of young people involved – there’s definitely a mob mentality. There’s social media fuelling it as well, all of those things combined are leading to what we’re seeing on the streets today.”
With several arrests on Tuesday, ACC Henderson said he expected more to follow.
He also noted that arrests from race riots in Belfast and elsewhere last year where now coming through the courts.
“I am determined that the police will bring people to justice for the behaviour that we’ve seen.
“There must and there will be consequences for it.”
The DUP leader Gavin Robinson also told the BBC the rioters were “destroying” and “intimidating” their own community.
“They are not creating the space to have the arguments around the issues that have bothered them, and they have lost the entire moral high ground that was attained by the good people of Ballymena on Monday night at their peaceful and respecftul and appropriate vigil.”
There's no dressing up this violence. There is no 'it is wrong but'... it is just racism
Analysis: Allison Morris, Belfast Telegraph, December 12th, 2025
In Exodus, God instructed the Israelites to mark their doorways with the blood of a sacrificed lamb so he would “pass over” their houses, sparing their firstborn sons, while striking down the firstborn of the Egyptians.
Ballymena has now developed its own version of the Passover, but this is a ritual where people mark their doors with Union flags. Those without the mark risk having their property razed to the ground.
There have now been two nights of rioting in Ballymena, with more than 30 officers injured and multiple properties damaged in arson attacks.
Terrified children have been evacuated from their homes and this is all in the name of a rampaging horde who claim to be protecting their community.
One Filipino family placed a flag of their nation next to a Union flag in the hope that would spare them from the violence of the mob.
In one clip posted online a woman can be heard directing rioters to a street saying “that's where they are all living and they're walking around in their dressing gowns” — adding that she had taken Union flags from neighbours' flower baskets to mark her house as not to be attacked.
The rioter replied: “You've the flag up, so you should be OK.”
Monday's protest — following the report of an alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl in the town — may have been initially well-intentioned, but what followed was just raw racism.
There's no dressing it up, there is no 'it is wrong but' … it is just racism, and it is not protecting women and girls — but targeting them.
As in previous cases, much of the disinformation that helps inflame tense situations is spread on social media.
One such page is advertising what houses are occupied by locals and therefore not to be attacked.
“It's time we were back on the streets only this time it's different. Call us racist if you want, it won't deter us”, it states.
South East Antrim UDA
While the South East Antrim UDA did not start the riots their members have been very much involved.
The organisation has been regularly named by our sister paper the Sunday Life as protecting sex offenders.
The organisation has also been accused of sexually exploiting teenage girls in return for drug debts being cleared.
The reported sexual assault of a teenage girl in Ballymena at the weekend is just the latest in a litany of crimes against women and girls in the town.
No one took to the streets after those attacks, the only difference in this case is the nationality of the alleged offenders.
Journalists must abide by strict reporting guidelines when covering sexual abuse cases. Those guidelines are stricter still when it comes to youth courts and child complainants and defendants.
This is often used by online agitators as 'evidence' of some big conspiratorial cover-up by the media.
As part of those guidelines, a victim of sexual assault has anonymity for life, no one but that victim themselves can waive that.
If the victim is under 18 then no publication or broadcast network can do anything to identify that child.
Even if the parents or guardians wish to waive anonymity, they are not permitted to in law, and that victim can only on turning 18 decide if they want to go public.
I say this because of the number of so-called 'citizen journalists' armed with selfie sticks and handheld microphones who are running around Ballymena with no care for the impact identifying a 13-year-old child will have on her future mental wellbeing.
Zero people receiving asylum support
Facts matter when it comes to easing tension in situations such as this.
Queen's University academic Rebecca Loader came to X armed with facts.
“Grim scenes from Ballymena, a town that had exactly zero people in receipt of asylum support in 2024. No “illegals” (not that any human should be seen that way); literally everyone was born there or was a legal migrant or refugee”, she said.
“It is, however, a town led by a council that turned down £100k money earmarked to support the integration of dispersed refugees and others in 2023/24.”
This is in contrast to what some politicians have claimed over the last few days regarding anger in the Co Antrim town at “illegal” immigration.
People are right to be angry at violence against women and girls. I am angered by the stories I report on and listen to in court on a weekly basis.
I would welcome peaceful protests to force changes to the sentencing guidelines and reform a system that is not victim-friendly.
But the reality is that the majority of these attacks — the vast majority — are by white British/Irish men.
Northern Ireland has a serious problem when it comes to how it treats women and girls, how it views them and how it fails to protect them.
Part of that problem comes from a violent patriarchal society with paramilitaries and others only too able and willing to use threats and violence when it suits them, actions to the detriment of society and certainly not for its protection.
It would be unhelpful for me to visit scene of riots says O’Neill
John Manley, Irish News, June 12th, 2025
MICHELLE O’Neill has said it would not be helpful for her to visit Ballymena to show solidarity with the families targeted by racist violence.
The first minister said she did not wish to “cause even more kind of kickback” by visiting the predominantly unionist town, which has been the scene for two successive nights of rioting.
“If I think it’s good for me to be somewhere, then I will be not be shy in attending – I just don’t think it’s good or will help the situation at this moment in time,” Ms O’Neill said.
The violence began on Monday night following a demonstration in support of a family whose young daughter had been the victim of an alleged sexual assault.
Romanian families living in the Clonavon Terrace area of the Co Antrim town have been targeted by violent mobs, who also attacked police.
Communities in fear says Little-Pengelly
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly visited the town yesterday and met local residents, saying the local community are in fear and want the violence to stop.
The Stormont leaders both insisted that they were not slow in responding to violence. A statement from their office condemning “racially-motivated violence” on behalf of all executive ministers was issued yesterday morning.
Ms O’Neill said she did not accept the suggestion that they were slow to respond to the violence.
“Like all these things, the sensitivities of the police on the ground trying to manage the situation, you don’t want to weigh-in and perhaps cause even more kind of kickback or whatever,” she said.
The first minister said she and the deputy first minister had taken advice from the PSNI.
“If I think it’s helpful, I’ll go there and roll up my sleeves; I will get stuck into that community and work with them. I just don’t think that’s going to help them at this moment,” Ms O’Neill said.
Ms Little-Pengelly said: “I don’t think we’ve been shy in terms of showing support, in terms of reaching out either to individuals or to organisations throughout whatever we have faced.”
She described the events of recent nights as “unacceptable thuggery”.
“We’ve been in contact with the chief constable, and in constant contact with the PSNI throughout last night in terms of what was happening on the ground.
“I think today is about sending a very clear message that violence is wrong, it is entirely unacceptable. It must stop.”
Ms O’Neill said: “It’s pure racism, there is no other way to dress it up.
“I think that there are two issues that are perhaps being conflated and they should not be.
“The first is the issue of an attack on the young woman, and I want her to have justice and I want to stand full-square with her family and I want the criminal justice system to do its work.
“Separate to that is the racism that we’re seeing… people being firebombed out of their homes, people having their doors knocked in, having their windows being smashed, families being intimidated.
“That is absolutely unacceptable and everything that needs to be done to bring it to an end is our focus in terms of the engagement we have with the PSNI.”
Homes and vehicles targeted in north Belfast
Mark Robinson, Irish News, June 12th, 2025
HOMES and vehicles in north Belfast were targeted on Tuesday night in suspected racist attacks, as violent outbursts continued in Ballymena and at other locations around Co Antrim.
Families were living in the homes in the Ballysillan area which came under attack, Sinn Féin said.
It comes as doors and windows of homes were smashed and set alight in Ballymena on Monday, with further violent clashes with police taking place on Tuesday.
A number of homes and businesses were once again attacked and 17 police officers were injured.
The PSNI say they also dealt with “sporadic disorder” in Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus.
A ‘peaceful protest’ which had been organised in Ballysillan Park area of north Belfast on Tuesday evening was followed by violent attacks.
The NIFRS said that it received a report of two vehicles on fire in the Silverstream Gardens area at 9.15pm.
Just three minutes later, they received an additional report of a car on fire in Oakley Street.
A spokesperson confirmed that the fires are all believed to have been deliberate.
Elsewhere, windows were smashed at homes in Legann Street and also in Oakley Street.
John Finucane condemns attacks
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane condemned the “deplorable” attacks in the area.
“I am horrified to learn that a number of homes were attacked near the Ballysillan area of north Belfast in suspected racist attacks,” he said.
“My thoughts are with the families affected by this abhorrent act. This kind of behaviour is deplorable and must be unequivocally condemned and called out by all political and community representatives.
“In situations like this, where such sickening behaviour occurs, strong and united leadership is essential to ensure it is not repeated.
“I will be contacting the families affected to ensure they receive the support they need, and to reassure them that the vast majority of people in our city warmly embrace the many positives that diversity brings.
Meanwhile, DUP MLA Brian Kingston said that he had visited the residents in Silverstream Gardens whose vehicles had been “attacked and set alight”.
“Both are foreign nationals,” he said.
“They and their wives have been living and working in Northern Ireland for many years, including in the care sector. I spoke to PSNI officers who stated they have increased their presence in response to these attacks.
“I visited the homes again [on Wednesday morning], speaking also to other local residents who made clear that they are disgusted by these attacks which are not wanted and that they get on well with these neighbours.
“It is entirely wrong for anyone to carry out such violent hate-crime against local families. This is a distraction from addressing the needs and concerns of local people.”
The PSNI has been contacted for comment.
'We are not here to ruin your community': Filipino man's plea to rioters after car torched in Ballymena
Gabrielle Swan, Belfast Telegraph, June 12th, 2025
VICTIM SPEAKS OUT AS BULGARIAN MUM SAYS SHE WILL LEAVE COUNTRY IN WAKE OF ATTACK ON HER HOME
A Filipino man who had his car burned out and home attacked during violence in Ballymena has pleaded with rioters to stop, telling them: “We are not here to destroy your community.”
Michael Asuro was one of several people from ethnic minority backgrounds targeted during a second night of trouble in the town on Tuesday.
There were reports that a kitchen was set alight in Queen's Street, while another property in the area was burned out.
In Clonavon Terrace — where the disorder started on Monday evening — flags and signs were put up in a bid to dissuade rioters from targeting homes.
Some houses had Union flags in the windows, while others had “British-owned home” written near their property. Also appearing in the residential area were signs that bore the flag of the Philippines, reading 'Filipinos live here'.
A Euro car wash on Linenhall Street was targeted, and a car was also burned out on the grounds. Car washes in Ballymena are a major employer for members of the Romanian community.
Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Asuro, a mechanic who is in Northern Ireland with family and friends, urged those behind the violence not to target them.
“About midnight last night, they were striking our neighbours. I am not sure who the owners of the house are,” he said.
“We were watching from upstairs, then they were attacking the car after they trashed the house. First, they struck the window then they started to set the car alight and rolled it over.
“I don't feel safe living in Northern Ireland now. I have family here, in this house there are two families — my friend and his wife.
“We feel extreme fear. I say to all of them [the rioters], we are not here to destroy your community. We are here legally. We are here to raise our family. We are far away from the Philippines.
“I work here as a mechanic. We're not here to give trouble. There was a massive riot last night, we didn't expect that.”
Mika Kolev, a mother-of-two from Bulgaria, said she and her family are leaving Northern Ireland after their home was attacked.
“It's making me move from here to save my children, to not have any depression. We know what's going to happen. It's not possible to wait to see what's going to happen,” she told the BBC.
Left Ukraine to seek safety
Ukrainian woman Alina Bohdan, who lives near Clonavon Terrace, plans to quit the area for her and her family's safety.
“I have lived in Northern Ireland for three years because of the war in my country. We left Ukraine because my youngest one was just born,” she said.
“I like living in Northern Ireland, even with the weather. It's good for me because I have thyroid cancer. People here are very kind.
“But when something like this happens here, I feel scared, especially when you have children and something has happened to your house.
“Yesterday, police were standing here with four police cars. There were young people who hid their faces, they had balaclavas. They had big stones. We were at home, we were scared, I tried to protect my kids. We were reading the Bible so they wouldn't come. My youngest one was so scared, she used a chair for cover. My son was scared too. They were burning a car. You cannot imagine how the owner of this car must have felt when they saw it.
“It was terrible, the stones ricocheted on my window, you can see the damage.”
A woman from the area, who wished to remain anonymous, made an appeal to the rioters to “leave us locals alone to rest”.
“We were just all standing out here on this street chasing them away, we are all locals,” she said.
“We've had no sleep, we have had to protect our elderly neighbours and try to get them out. It has been absolutely horrific. There's no need for that violence. I don't understand how it became an excuse to riot.
“I am frightened that this is going to continue… they have made their point, leave us locals alone.”
Tuesday night marked a significant escalation in the rioting with fires set across Ballymena and properties damaged. The violence was sparked after an alleged sexual assault on a teenage girl in the Clonavon Terrace area. Two Romanian 14-year-olds were charged with attempted rape.
Initially starting as a demonstration in Harryville on Monday, tensions spiralled out of control when masked men and youths attacked police.
On Tuesday, protesters threw petrol bombs, bricks and fireworks at police, with 17 officers injured — bringing the total number hurt to 32.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer branded the violence “mindless”, while First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly appeared together to voice their condemnation.
Minister to be referred to standards commissioner following Larne fire
By Cillian Sherlock, PA, Belfast News Letter, June 12th, 2025
The Communities Minister is to be referred to the standards commissioner following vandalism and a fire at Larne Leisure Centre.
Prior to the fire, Gordon Lyons posted on social media that the leisure centre had been used to accommodate several people following riotous behaviour in the town of Ballymena , which is 30 minutes away.
Matthew O'Toole , the leader of the opposition in the Northern Ireland Assembly , said he would refer the minister to the commissioner.
Mr Lyons said on Wednesday: "As a local MLA for the area, neither I nor my DUP Council colleagues were made aware or consulted on this decision until late this afternoon."
He added: "It has now been confirmed to us by the PSNI and Council that all these individuals are in the care of the Housing Executive and have been moved out of Larne.
"Protesting is of course a legitimate right but violence is not and I would encourage everyone to remain peaceful."
A fire later broke out at the centre following vandalism at the facility on the third night of disorder in Northern Ireland .
Masked individuals smashed windows at the leisure centre in Co Antrim on Wednesday and set fires outside which spread inside.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said the facility had been designated as an emergency rest centre for those in urgent need following disturbances in nearby Ballymena but the families had been safely relocated elsewhere.
Police and firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control on Wednesday night.
Mr Lyons condemned the damage inflicted on Larne Leisure Centre and said it only serves to hurt residents of the town.
He said: "The violence and disorder witnessed on our streets over recent nights serves no purpose. Wanton destruction such as the attack on Larne Leisure Centre is an attack on all residents who use the facility.
"There is absolutely no excuse for what has taken place in Larne, and it must be condemned."
Actions of Minister ‘cannot be ignored’
Mr O'Toole, an SDLP MLA, said: "The actions of the Communities Minister cannot be ignored.
"He is the minister response for the Housing Executive and lives are at stake."
He said the opposition will refer Mr Lyons to the standards commissioner on Thursday and "explore all other options for accountability".
The fire coincided with a third night of public disorder in Ballymena .
The violence began around Clonavon Terrace on Monday night following an earlier peaceful protest which was organised in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the area.
Two teenage boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, have been charged.
The DUP has been contacted for comment.
More anti-migrant protests planned
Connla Young, Irish News, June 12th, 2025
A HOUSING association has urged tenants to stay with family and friends over safety concerns ahead of a loyalist race-hate protest.
It is understood Arbour Housing wrote to residents in Portadown yesterday that the protest is “directed towards migrants, foreign nationals and others”.
The warning came as it emerged that loyalists linked to an Eleventh Night bonfire in Portadown are planning an anti-immigrant march.
The procession is due to take place today and comes after several days of race riots in Ballymena.
Minor protests have also been held in other mainly unionist areas of the north.
In its letter, Arbour Housing said “it is possible this protest could lead to an unsafe situation and we would recommend that you stay with family or friends during the protest”.
The letter added that “recent protests” in other areas has led to damage to property and recommended that “measures are taken to secure your property and belongings”.
The association advised people to contact 999 in the “event of risk or threat”.
Details of the Portadown event have been posted on a Facebook page linked to Loyalist Edgarstown Bonfire.
Sinister message singles out migrants.
“It’s time to take a stand and stop welcoming these illegal migrant gangs flocking into our town, paedophiles, drug pushers, human traffickers, prostitutes you have running our streets day and night putting the fear of God into our women and children,” it states.
The menacing post urges those taking part to target properties in the Thomas Street area of the town.
Loyalists plan to make their way from Jervis Street to the town centre before proceeding to Thomas Street to HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) in the area.
Organisers say they will also target a named hostel in the town, which it is claimed houses paedophiles.
The message states: “Our town has become the worst from Lurgan to Dungannon – Portadown has the highest amount of foreign nationals, HMOs and convicted sex offenders.
“Lets make that change, get off your seat and be part of making a safe country for our kids futures.” The event does not appear to have been notified to the Parades Commission.
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson slammed the planned event.
“While the right to protest is a crucial aspect of our democracy, going out to deliberately create unrest and stoke racial tensions is categorically unacceptable, and achieves nothing other than creating fear, hate and division in our community,” he said.
“There is a young girl and a family at the heart of these events and my thoughts are with them.”
SDLP Policing Board member Mark H Durkan MLA said the “sentiments expressed in this online post are absolutely disgraceful”.
“These people are human beings and this kind of language is incredibly inflammatory and destructive,” he said.
Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd said reports of the protest are “deeply disturbing and disgraceful”: “We have already seen the misery that racist thugs have inflicted on the people of Ballymena and elsewhere – those scenes must not be repeated in Portadown.”
NI to receive £1.2bn more for NI but economist warns it won't fix challenges
James McNaney, Belfast Telegraph, June 12th, 2025
ECONOMIST CALLS FOR RECOVERY PLAN AFTER CHANCELLOR PLEDGES PAYOUT
The Government has promised a £50m contribution to the Casement Park rebuild, as part of a £1.2bn increase in funding for Northern Ireland.
Announcing the outcome of Labour's Spending Review, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves declared: “The devolved administrations will receive their largest real terms settlements since devolution began in 1998.”
Budgets across Westminster departments will grow by 2.3% per year in real terms until 2028-29.
Northern Ireland will see an increase in the amount of money it receives through the Barnett formula, the mechanism the Treasury uses to calculate how much money it gives to Stormont.
Speaking about the average increase of £1.2bn, the Treasury said: “The Northern Ireland Executive will receive an average extra £1.2bn through the Barnett formula, 24% more to spend per person than the comparable UK Government spending in the rest of the UK, reflecting Northern Ireland's unique circumstances.”
Westminster has committed to maintaining some already-announced spending over the course of the review, for example allocating “£137m over three years in continued support for tackling paramilitarism and organised crime, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Additional Security Fund”.
Some of the Chancellor's headline nation-wide policies will have a direct impact on Northern Ireland, including changes to asylum policy.
The Government intends to end the use of hotels to provide accommodation to asylum seekers within the life of the current parliament.
The Home Office currently contracts private firm Mears Group to source accommodation — including in hotels — for people seeking asylum in GB and NI.
As of last September, there were over 300 such people in Northern Ireland living in hotels, in conditions which have been criticised by refugee rights' groups.
The Chancellor said she will speed up the asylum process and cut the backlog in the system which is costing the Government billions of pounds.
Other parts of wider UK policies will impact Northern Ireland, including the Government's plans to increase defence spending annually by between 3.6% and 3.8%.
The precise location of defence spending increases will be announced later in the year in the defence investment plan, but it will include Northern Ireland, where the Government spent £240m in 2023-24 on an industry that employs 600 people.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said that “both” new and existing defence facilities here would receive investment “because there is just so much extra money going into defence spending”.
Mr Jones added that Northern Ireland would also see investment in the advanced manufacturing sector, including aerospace businesses.
Northern Ireland will also have access to an additional £350m from the British Business Bank, the governmental body that offers financing and investment to private firms across the UK.
It was through the bank that the Covid-relief loans were provided to companies.
It has supported 6,000 businesses in NI since 2014 and its NI investments include Reform RX, a Pilates reformer company which was recently sold on to a major US firm.
NI to get AI investment
Northern Ireland will also be part of other pieces of investment, including the Government's plan to aggressively grow AI capabilities in NI.
An AI unit will be set up within the Executive, part of what Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly called “a huge agenda”.
“We are determined to try and ensure Northern Ireland can do transformation in efficiency and productivity improvements through all of the tools that are there. That includes the advances in AI,” she said.
Responding to the Spending Review, Andrew Webb, the chief economist of Grant Thornton NI, said reform was necessary to ensure increased public spending was effective.
“Our public services face accumulated pressure — financial, structural, and societal.
“The Spending Review acknowledges this by calling for reform, but when we look around and see infrastructure deficits in areas such as waste water that are in the billions of pounds, we know we have a massive task on our hands.
“Our challenges aren't just money-related. New money helps, but money alone won't fix planning bottlenecks, staff shortages, or fragmented governance.
“Northern Ireland needs a structured, long-range recovery plan with investment in the right places, powers aligned with purpose, and a relentless focus on outcomes. Otherwise, we risk repeating the cycle of pouring more money in and improving little.”
Meanwhile, Stormont Finance Minister John O'Dowd said that agreements secured with the Treasury by his department will “deliver an additional £600m of funding provided for vital public services here”.
Mr O'Dowd was referring to the Treasury's willingness to exclude over £300m of agriculture funding from funding calculations, saving the Executive £600m over the period of the Spending Review.
Additional cash moves conversation on, but it's not yet a game-changer
Suzanne Breen, Belfast Telegraph, June 10th, 2025
The Government's additional finance for Casement Park moves the conversation along on the stadium's redevelopment, but it's not yet a game-changer. The £50m allocated was at the lower end of the predicted allocation. Estimates had varied from £40-80m. A considerable shortfall still exists for the £260m project.
With £62.5m on the table from the Executive, £43m from the Irish government, and £15m from the GAA, £90m remains to be found.
Dublin and the GAA are expected to raise their contributions but that won't completely close the gap. It's very much over to the Executive now.
As the GAA states, Casement is a flagship Executive project included in successive programmes for government.
Public views will be aired at Stormont, but the real work will be behind-the-scenes. Can Sinn Fein and the DUP hammer out a deal to deliver a rebuilt Casement Park? Additional money for soccer would likely be part of any such agreement.
The stakes are high for Sinn Fein. Michelle O'Neill has promised that Casement will be built on her watch. DUP voters are as unenthusiastic about that prospect as nationalists voters are as keen on it.
The party has effectively been running down the clock. Planning permission runs out in July 2026. From the DUP leadership's perspective, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has done an excellent job.
There's so far been no progress on the stadium yet Lyons has said nothing antagonistic that would outrage the nationalist community. No sporting equivalent of 'curry my yogurt' has fallen from his lips. He's played a Jim Molyneaux-type waiting game.
Speaking in the House of Commons, SDLP leader Claire Hanna welcomed the £50m funding and said: “The onus is now on the Executive — on Sinn Fein, the DUP and the Alliance Party — to get moving, to end a decade of dither and delay, and to finally get Casement Park built.”
The SDLP believes that Stormont must up its contribution to the project. Professor Jon Tonge of Liverpool University has noted there has been no increase in the Executive's contribution in line with inflation.
“The amount of money allocated to Casement by Stormont has remained static. Inflation has significantly eroded the value of the original allocation while building costs have risen,” he said.
“That £62.5m offered in 2011 is worth £25m less in real terms today, adjusting for inflation. If the Executive raises the money in line with inflation, it would give Casement almost £88m now.”
The TUV will be breathing down the DUP's neck in order to prevent any Executive agreement to increase funding. UUP peer Tom Elliott last week wrote to the Secretary of State saying that any additional money from London for Casement would be “seen by many unionists as the Labour Government taking a pro-Irish nationalist and republican position of support and exclusion of the unionist community.”
He told Hilary Benn that “for years, everyone who was a member of the Northern Ireland security services was banned by the GAA from being a member”.
The Secretary of State has delivered significantly more for Casement than his predecessor Chris Heaton-Harris. The focus now switches from Westminster back to Stormont. There is no indication from Gordon Lyons that finding additional Executive money for the stadium is a priority for him.
He described the GAA's existing plans on Wednesday as “very ambitious”. The organisation would have to find extra money or “they are going to need to consider how they change their plans to fit the funding that is available”.
However, planning permission is for a 34,000-seater stadium. The GAA is unlikely to reduce that. Our politicians remain deeply at odds on Casement's future.
