2 days ago
Blame game breaks out over Northern Ireland riots
A Stormont minister is facing calls to resign as a blame game breaks out over the Northern Ireland riots.
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is accused of making Larne Leisure Centre a target for anti-migrant rioters with a social media post sent hours before it was set on fire.
Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill has now told him to 'consider his position', claiming he had 'failed to show correct leadership'.
Mr Lyons, of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), 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 nearby Ballymena.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said ethnic minorities have been targeted in the violence, which they have described as 'racist thuggery'.
Masked youths attacked the leisure centre on Wednesday night and set it on fire.
Before the blaze, Mr Lyons posted on social media that the building had been used to temporarily accommodate several people following riotous behaviour in Ballymena, which is 30 minutes away.
His 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.'
Ms O'Neill said Mr Lyons had 'failed to show correct leadership and I think that his commentary falls very short and very much strays into the territory of inflaming the situation, so I think that he should consider his position.'
'Stop the rumours'
Asked by the BBC Good Morning Ulster programme if he should still be in his job, Mr Lyons replied: 'Absolutely.'
He added: 'My message was posted because rumours had been circulating that the leisure centre was to be turned into a permanent centre.
'A protest had already been planned at 7pm last evening.
'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.'
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary 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.'
'Reckless'
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, who is a DUP party colleague of Mr Lyons, said: 'I think that what the people of Northern Ireland need and want right now is to see that the Executive is united, and united on a very clear message.
'That is incredibly important, we have just seen three nights of violent disorder.'
Matthew O'Toole, leader of the opposition in the Northern Ireland Assembly, said he had referred Mr Lyons' social media post to the Assembly standards commissioner.
Alliance Party MLA Danny Donnelly said: 'If I was the minister I would be considering my 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.'
Third night of disorder
Sinn Fein MLA Colm Gildernew described Mr Lyons' post as 'reckless and inflammatory', adding: '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 the disturbances in Ballymena, but the families had been safely relocated elsewhere.
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.
