Ballymena MLA Paul Frew said that he “consistently raised the alarm” that people in the area were “living in fear” before the disorder that broke out in his hometown of Ballymena this week.
The DUP politician said that his warnings had been followed by a “shocking” incident of alleged serious sexual assault which had been “carried out in broad daylight.”
Speaking on an alleged event that took place in his hometown, Mr Frew said he “feared that this was going to happen.” Mr Frew said that the town had experienced “a lot of tension” over the last number of weeks and months, and that it was with a “heavy heart” that people had been adversely impacted by the disorder this week.
The disorder came after two 14-year-old boys appeared in court after a serious sexual assault took place involving a teenage girl, with the PSNI saying that it happene in Clonavon Terrace, in Ballymena, on Saturday. Both boys, who confirmed their names and ages through a Romanian interpreter at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on Monday, are charged with attempted oral rape. Both deny the charges.
The MLA stressed that “violence is wrong” and must be condemned, but that it “should not dilute the message from the thousands” of people who turned up at the initial protest against violence against women and girls, and those who turned out to show solidarity, sympathy and support for the families affected by the “heinous” alleged crimes that he said had taken place in the town.
“Violence is not the answer to anything. Violence is wrong, no matter what quarter it comes from or who it targets. My heart goes out to anyone who has been affected by violence, sexual or otherwise, in my constituency over the last number of weeks or months. It has to end, it has to stop. People must feel safe in their home towns. People must feel safe in the streets that they have to walk when they go to work, when they socialise, or when they meet friends. Violence has to stop from every quarter,” the MLA told the Stormont Assembly.
His comments come as violence continued into a second night in the North Antrim town, with seventeen police officers reported injured last night. Protestors lobbed bricks, petrol bombs at fireworks at police, with a total of five people arrested. The number of officers injured has climbed to 32, with officers firing baton rounds and a water cannon in an attempt to disperse crowds, as cars were set on fire.
The disorder began on Monday after a peaceful protest over the alleged sexual assault in the town.
Mr Frew, whose constituency office is in the town, said that he had “campaigned hard” to modernise legislation to better protect women and girls.
“While significant progress has been made, each week we are confronted with fresh examples that demonstrate how far we still have to go.
“The Government has been warned repeatedly that more must be done. The PSNI and statutory agencies need to urgently get to grips with the challenges arising in Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and the wider consequences of illegal immigration. These are sensitive but serious issues, and Government must not look the other way,” Mr Frew said.
“In North Antrim, and particularly in Ballymena, I have consistently raised the alarm that people are living in fear. Sadly, my warnings have been followed by two shocking incidents of serious sexual assault on teenage girls, carried out in broad daylight. As these are live investigations, I will refrain from further comment, but the shock and fear felt across the community is real and widespread.
“We must see justice done for these heinous crimes. Women and girls must be protected from those who wish them harm. This requires every arm of Government to work together with urgency, focus and purpose.
“Safe streets are a must. The Government must stop dithering and act now. Failure to do so puts more women and girls at risk and further erodes public trust.”
On Monday, the MLA had shared a statement from the family of an alleged victim, which read: “As a family we would like to let people know that we were in no way involved or condone any trouble that happened after tonight’s peaceful protest.
“We would again like to thank the people who came from far and wide to support us and ask that justice be served in the correct manner.”
Meanwhile, First Minister Michelle O’Neill described the violence in Ballymena as “pure racism, there’s no other way to dress it up.” The Sinn Féin deputy leader said that the attacks were “abhorrent and must stop immediately.”
She said those responsible “bring nothing to our communities but hatred, fear and division,” adding: “No-one, now or ever, should feel the need to place a sticker on their door to identify their ethnicity just to avoid being targeted.”
Ms O’Neill said it was “important that political leaders are very clear in terms of the language that they use and the words that they use and that they don’t conflate issues”.
Deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly of the DUP, said on Wednesday: “Today there are some very serious issues in terms of the disorder and violence, the absolute unacceptable nature of the thuggery that we have seen over the course of the last two days.”
Politicians in the Northern Ireland Executive further appealed for calm in a joint statement issued on behalf of ministers from Sinn Féin, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Alliance Party and the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).
It reads: “We strongly condemn the racially motivated violence witnessed in recent days and make an urgent appeal for calm across society.
“The alleged serious sexual assault reported on 7 June in Ballymena was appalling and our collective thoughts are with the victim and their loved ones at this deeply traumatic time.
“It is paramount that the justice process is now allowed to take its course so that this heinous crime can be robustly investigated.
“Those weaponising the situation in order to sow racial tensions do not care about seeing justice and have nothing to offer their communities but division and disorder.”
The statement added: “While all of our citizens have the right to engage in peaceful protest, there can never be any justification for the violence that has taken place in recent days, during which residents have been terrorised and numerous police officers injured.”
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