Northern Irish housing and homelessness sector leaders condemn attacks on homes during riots
Senior leaders from across the sector in Northern Ireland have united in their condemnation of the attacks on people’s homes.
Northern Irish housing and homelessness sector leaders condemn attacks on homes during riots #UKhousingIn response to ongoing tensions in the nation, the senior leaders are advising residents with property or safety concerns to contact their providers in the first instance.
Nicola McCrudden, chief executive of Homeless Connect; Kate McCauley, chief executive of Housing Rights; Justin Cartwright, national director at the Chartered Institute of Housing Northern Ireland; and Seamus Leheny, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations, have issued the following: “Access to adequate housing is a basic and fundamental human right. Everyone in society, regardless of ethnicity or race, has the right to peaceful and quiet enjoyment of their home and protection against forced eviction.
“The recent attacks on people’s homes, and on a temporary site providing refuge for those affected, is unjustified and must be condemned.
“Any service, statutory or voluntary, upholding this right through provision of invaluable housing support to people experiencing homelessness should never be subject to violence and intimidation.”
The BBC is reporting that around 50 households in Northern Ireland have received assistance since disorder broke out in Ballymena this week, according to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
This is in addition to around 14 families being provided with emergency accommodation.
The disorder started on Monday after a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in the County Antrim town.
Today, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has also condemned a fourth consecutive night of disorder that has resulted in more arrests and officers injured.
There were some protests reported in Belfast, described as “mainly peaceful”, with travel disrupted in the Templemore Avenue area of east Belfast for a short time.
The PSNI reported that bricks were thrown through the windows of two houses in the Avoniel Road in a racially motivated attack. At the same time, reports of anti-immigration hate graffiti are being investigated in Newtownards.
A house fire in the Mount Street area of Coleraine is being treated as deliberate and a racially motivated hate crime. A family with three young children were evacuated from this property.
Ryan Henderson, assistant chief constable at PSNI, said: “Last night in Portadown police came under sustained attack from rioters throwing masonry and other missiles. Officers deployed a variety of public order tactics to restore order to the town as quickly as possible.
“Twenty-two officers were injured and I am so grateful to them for their bravery and selfless dedication in protecting the community of Portadown from this criminality.
“We saw calm in Ballymena and I hope the powerful words of the family who asked for calm during this really difficult time were heard and continue to be heard over the coming days.
“Two arrests were made in Portadown last night and more will follow. I repeat, once more, our appeal for calm across Northern Ireland in the coming days.”
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