Vandals attack sanctuary
by Gregg Ryan Ireland Correspondent
Reprisal: the Revd Malcolm Morgan, pastor of Belfast City Church, examines some of the damage caused in Monday’s attack
PA |
| THE Belfast church where 114 Romanians received shelter and protection after racial intimidation was attacked by vandals on Monday night.
Belfast City Church opened its doors to the migrant workers and their families after a campaign of intimidation, malicious damage, and threats with firearms by a small group of racists (News, 19 June).
Three men were arrested on Tuesday in connection with an attack on the building, which resulted in several broken windows. Two teenagers have already been arrested with regard to the original intimidation of the Romanians. All but 14 of of the families involved have elected to return to Romania. Their repatriation is being funded by the Northern Ireland Assembly’s department of social development, which is headed by the SDLP Minister, Margaret Ritchie.
The Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster, has called on Esther Rantzen to apologise for saying that people in Northern Ireland were “addicted to hatred”.
“Northern Ireland has witnessed nothing like the same degree of interracial strife that exists on the UK mainland,” Ms Foster said. |
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