‘Ballymena is a great town': New mayor on ‘baptism of fire' after rioting and dealing with personal loss
Ulster Unionist Jackson Minford discusses the recent disorder, how he got into politics, and the death of his daughter
At 68 years old, and just one week into his new term as mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Ulster Unionist Jackson Minford has had, in his own words, a 'baptism of fire'.
Ballymena has been the focal point of serious unrest, as protests escalated into violence last Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the town. Two 14-year-old boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, have been charged with attempted rape.
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Belfast Telegraph
32 minutes ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Graffiti daubed on Belfast home targeting Romanian community condemned as police probe ‘hate-motivated criminal damage'
The house off the Lisburn Road in Chadwick Street had black writing painted over the front of the property which said 'out Romenian [sic]', with paint also placed over the front windows. Police said they were alerted to the incident on Sunday afternoon but said they believed the home was targeted 'sometime before the report was made'. The incident comes on the back of disorder and racist rioting across Northern Ireland last week which was sparked following an alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl in the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena. The two 14-year-old boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were charged with attempted rape at Coleraine Magistrates Court. They spoke through a Romanian interpreter. The graffiti in Belfast has been condemned by local SDLP councillor Gary McKeown. "Racist attacks like this have no place in our society and do nothing but instil fear in communities,' he said. "Over the past week we have seen mindless violence wreaking havoc, creating terror and forcing people from their homes. "I know there are many families from ethnic minority communities who are terrified even to let their children go to school for fear that they might get attacked. The impact on people's wellbeing is indescribable. "After the riots in South Belfast last summer, the last thing this area needs is for the most recent outbreak of violence to spread here. I would urge anyone in a position of influence over those engaged in this behaviour to get them to stop." A PSNI spokesperson said: 'Police are investigating a report of criminal damage at a house in the Chadwick Street area of south Belfast. 'A report was received at approximately 12.35pm on Sunday, 15th June that graffiti had been daubed on a property. 'We believe the damage, however, was caused sometime before the report was made to police. 'Black paint was used to cover the front wall, downstairs front windows and front door of the house. 'This report is being treated as hate-motivated criminal damage, and we would ask anyone with any information regarding what happened to contact police on 101 and quote reference number 619 15/06/25.'
ITV News
2 hours ago
- ITV News
Police working ‘night and day' to catch those involved in Northern Ireland riots
Police are working 'night and day' to catch those involved in rioting in Northern Ireland, a senior officer has said. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has welcomed a reduction in disorder on Saturday night following several days of sustained rioting and attacks on officers. The force said there were 'sporadic disturbances' on Saturday which included youths throwing stones in Lurgan and an attempt to attack a vehicle in Carrickfergus. Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said: 'Our heightened presence in our local communities and continued community engagement to de-escalate violence continued last night, but thankfully, the situation was much calmer than we have seen in recent days. 'I issued a public plea to parent/guardians and families of young people who have been driving the criminal activity in some areas to warn them of the serious consequences of their actions. 'I am asking for continued conversations amongst local families to deter young people from criminalising themselves.' The disorder started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the town last weekend. Two 14-year-old boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, have been charged with attempted rape. A peaceful protest on Monday evening about the alleged assault was followed by attacks on police and properties housing ethnic minorities. The PSNI described the scenes as 'racist thuggery'. The disturbances in the Co Antrim town continued for several nights and spread to other areas of Northern Ireland including Portadown, Larne, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Londonderry and Coleraine. The PSNI said officers dealt with some sporadic disturbances on Saturday, including an incident of attempted criminal damage to a vehicle in Carrickfergus. A 40-year-old man has been charged over the incident and will appear in court next month, Following a report of a group of people throwing bottles at addresses in Lurgan, two boys, aged 14 and 12, were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage before being street bailed. Detectives investigating online posts relating to recent public disorder arrested a 32-year-old man in the Larne area on Saturday on suspicion of encouraging or assisting offences and possession of a class B controlled drug. He remains in custody. Ms Jones said: 'Our public order inquiry Team are working day and night to identify those who have been involved in the disorder over the last number of days. 'Our Chief Constable and other members of the senior team have been meeting with local community representatives of those affected over the weekend so we can support them as best we can and offer reassurance of our policing operation to restore calm. 'Everyone deserves to feel safe on our streets. So, just as we will seek justice for women and girls who report heinous crimes to us, we will also seek justice for local innocent families who are being targeted by criminality fuelled by hate. 'To date, we have made 24 arrests, 14 of which have resulted in individuals being charged to court. 'We will continue to robustly investigate the disorder over the last number of days but do not want to see any more young people criminalised by being caught up in this activity.' She added: 'Sixty-four of our colleagues have been injured and I commend their bravery and determination. 'Their unwavering efforts over the last number of days have resulted in a reduction of disorder and I hope the local communities who have been targeted have felt the support of our frontline teams. 'To come under sustained attack when you are there to serve and protect all is disheartening to say the least. 'They have been steadfast in their commitment to restore peace and I am proud of them all.' Police have also released images of people they want to speak to in relation to the disturbances. Ms Jones said: 'I am asking the wider community to step forward and help us. 'It is in all of our interests, and in the interests of justice, that those responsible are dealt with and I would urge anyone who may have information to bring it forward. 'If you are able to identify any of the people shown in these images or can provide information about them you should contact us on 101 or on our major incident portal, which is accessible on our website. 'I would also like to reassure the communities that we serve that we will continue to maintain our presence and protect streets. 'We are grateful for the support of all who condemn this criminality and would, once more, repeat our appeal for calm across Northern Ireland in the coming days.'
ITV News
2 hours ago
- ITV News
Police warn of further arrests as 28 held over violent race riots in Northern Ireland
A 13-year-old girl is among those charged with rioting following week long disorder in Northern Ireland last week. Five further arrests have been made by police investigating the riots. The disorder started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the town last 14-year-old Romanian boys have been charged with attempted rape. Hundreds attend anti-racism rally after week of violence A peaceful protest on Monday evening about the alleged assault was followed by attacks on police and properties housing ethnic minorities. Police have said the latest arrests include a 25-year-old man who has been detained in connection with an arson attack on Larne Leisure Centre, and a 13-year-old girl who has been charged with rioting in Ballymena. The leisure centre was significantly damaged following an incident in Larne last 25-year-old man was arrested following the search of a house in Larne at the weekend on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger PSNI described the scenes as 'racist thuggery'. The disturbances in the Co Antrim town continued for several nights and spread to other areas of Northern Ireland including Portadown, Larne, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Londonderry and Monday morning police said 28 arrests have been made in relation to the disorder, and they expect to make further arrests in the coming days and people were due to appear before court on Monday, including a 13-year-old girl charged with rioting by officers investigating disorder in Ballymena on Wednesday June 11.A 40-year-old man was charged with riot following the first night of the disorder in Ballymena on Monday June 9, and a 33-year-old woman has been charged with child cruelty relating to the investigating online posts relating to recent public disorder have charged a 32-year-old man to has been charged with sending menacing messages through a public electronic communications network and with encouraging or assisting offences believing one or more will be is further charged with possession of a class B controlled drug, and was due to appear before Coleraine Magistrates' Court on graffiti in Bangor and on an unoccupied house in Chadwick Street in south Belfast are being investigated as racially motivated hate crimes, and at Brompton Park in Ardoyne, around 30 youths set a wheelie bin on Chief Constable Melanie Jones said 64 police officers were injured during the disorder, but said the situation is now much calmer.'Our heightened presence in our local communities and continued community engagement to de-escalate violence continued last night… thankfully, similar to Saturday, the situation was much calmer,' she said.'I issued a public plea to parent/guardians and families of young people who have been driving the criminal activity in some areas to warn them of the serious consequences of their actions.'I am asking for continued conversations amongst local families to deter young people from criminalising themselves.'Ms Jones said the chief constable Jon Boutcher and other senior members of the PSNI have been meeting with local community representatives of those affected over the weekend.'Everyone deserves to feel safe on our streets. So, just as we will seek justice for women and girls who report heinous crimes to us, we will also seek justice for local innocent families who are being targeted by criminality fuelled by hate,' she said.'We will continue to robustly investigate the disorder over the last number of days but do not want to see any more young people criminalised by being caught up in this activity.'Thankfully, none of our officers policing this disorder reported being injured on duty last night. We have 64 of our colleagues currently recovering from injury and I commend their bravery and unwavering efforts.'She also reiterated an appeal for information around images released by police of a number of individuals they wish to interview.'If you are able to identify any of the people shown in these images or can provide information about them you should contact us on 101 or on our major incident portal, which is accessible on our website,' she said.'I would also like to reassure the communities that we serve that we will continue to maintain our presence and protect streets.'We are grateful for the support of all who condemn this criminality and would, once more, repeat our appeal for calm across Northern Ireland in the coming days.'
