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Lindy McDowell: How the PSNI let Romanian attacks spiral out of control
Saturday, 20 June 2009
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Northern Ireland — where we may not be so hot in community relations, but are world leaders in making a crisis out of a drama. This week’s locally produced headline for global consumption and revulsion ... Romanian families (including new born baby) seek sanctuary in church after being forced from their homes by racist thugs.
Accompanying the story — pictures of small, bewildered children, young women in tears, families carting all their belongings hastily bundled up in bed sheets ?
No wonder such images have made headlines around the world. They are mildly reminiscent of scenes from the Balkan War.
Following attacks on houses in the Lisburn Road area of Belfast, over 100 Roma people gathered together in two of the houses. Local residents rallied to their support. The families said they didn’t want to stay in their homes and so were relocated to a nearby church hall.
By now the pictures emerging were like something from the sports stadium in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Next day — on to the Ozone (a tennis training facility) where the families were given a bed for the night. Support agencies and again local people — including schoolchildren — flocked to help with food, bedding and gifts.
Finally, it was on to temporary rehousing in the Holyland. (For the benefit of internet readers, an area of Belfast infamous for its rampaging students.)
In the meantime, subplots of the same story have included allegations that some of the ‘refugees’ have been hyping claims in order to secure new accommodation, an ongoing holier-than-thou debate about who is less racist than whom within our community, talk of involvement of sinister fascist outfits and Jackie McDonald, Brigadier (self-appointed, South Belfast) showing up at the Ozone to assure everyone that while the UDA may do sectarianism it doesn’t do racism.
In all then, a familiar mix in Northern Ireland. A story of despicable violence, bigotry, maggotry, point scoring and politicking.
But also (much less noted) a story of so very many good people doing their damnedest to try and help others. The neighbours outraged at the attacks. The cleric and his team in the church hall. The Ozone staff and the aid agencies. The school kids and their teachers from the Shore Road who arrived laden with sweets and drinks ?
Which of these two sides of the coin is the real Northern Ireland? The yobs or the good people?
At a time of media hype and general chest-beating hysteria it may be unfashionable to say it, but my money is still on the good people. According to one police chief, we should all feel ashamed that such attacks are happening. But actually, no, we shouldn’t, officer. The vast majority of people have had nothing to do with such attacks and are totally opposed to them and the racism that fuels them.
What is a cause for shame, however, is that what should have been a containable situation was allowed to spiral out of control so swiftly.
And for that the PSNI have to take a very large portion of the blame. Where were they in the immediate aftermath of those first attacks? During the trouble at the protest march (initially no police in attendance) a number of youths were chased by marchers. There is no evidence to say that these were the same youths who had attacked the homes. But watching footage of their fleeing heels on the teatime news they did not look like a slickly organised combat unit. They looked like a bunch of wee toe-rags.
That’s what we’re dealing with here. Disaffected yoof terrorising vulnerable families. And getting away with it. If the PSNI had moved more swiftly the entire miserable saga should have been nipped in the bud.
As it is the crisis — and the claims — expand daily. There is talk of Mein Kampf being pushed through doorways. Even men with guns turning up on doorsteps. How much of this is true? Do the cops even know? Perhaps Sir Hugh could give us (and the wider world) a clear picture of just what really did happen. And more importantly, why it was allowed to.
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I am Spanish...and after seen this in the news... I can not imagine live here anymore. This place stinks of racist people, and I am ask you, what do you think you are?. You are actually a third world county I have to say, so good luck, and from now if I have contact any single Irish inmigrant in Spain (because it is full of them and they are actually worst than Romanians) I will be sure he/she is kick out from OUR jobs and send back home. Bye, bye and say hello to Hitler from us.
Posted by Gabi | 24.06.09, 14:09 GMT
There is a difference between Romanians and Roma (Gypsy) people. Romanians, inhabiting Romania, a country in SE Europe, are Latin (Romance) people and speak a language closely related to French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese.
Roma (Romaniy or Gypsy) people have recently adopted this name and trace their origins to modern India. There are Gypsies from Ro as there are from other countries as well. They are probably the most discriminated people in Europe.
To confuse the 2 people is ignorant.
Posted by AlsoSprachZamolxis | 23.06.09, 17:33 GMT
Why is it that if people want to keep their ethnic identity and protest against the forced relocation of people from a underdeveloped culture that they are racist? Yet peoples from these cultures are not required to change their ways?
Posted by bcotton | 23.06.09, 12:50 GMT
My knowledge of 'the Romanian incident' has been gotten through the Internet (in the U. S.). While this particular hate crime is localized to Northern Ireland, racial hatred finds homes worldwide. From reading, it is my experience that in such cases police response must be as fast as possible ('immediate'), with the police establishement showing no bias. After reading the first article, it was obvious that the PSNI didn't show.
Posted by Jesse James | 22.06.09, 14:00 GMT
Canuck. Who has created this image of the "thieving Romanians" ? Not the Romanians, surely. People like you perhaps ? Tell us, how is it you know so much about Romanians and their culture and what they get up to in Belfast ?
It's not up to the ordinary Romanian to change this warped image, but people like you with their bigoted mindset.
Posted by Yip | 22.06.09, 11:43 GMT
Canuck
Saying 'Im not a racist but...' doesnt make it any less racist.
Posted by Gary | 22.06.09, 11:16 GMT
It is alarming that several of the posts refer to 'Romanians' as though they were all Romani gypsies 'begging and stealing' on the streets and 'using their women and babies'!! Romani gypsies have as much to do with the average Romanian as tinkers in painted caravans have to do with the Irish. Would the posters be so pleased to hear the average Irish citizen compared to theiving gypsy beggars?? Of course not. Such general statements are arrogant, ignorant are ridiculous.
Posted by Jamie | 21.06.09, 19:17 GMT
The image created by the Romanian community is of thieves, and beggars. the use their women and babies to beg in the Town centres. Not all are like this, but the is the image ordinary people have of their community, which only they can change.
Posted by canuck | 21.06.09, 17:11 GMT
Useless when the PSNI cannot quickly catch a few thugs terrorizing people. What are they going to be like when they loose the help of the 400 full time, police reservists?
Pathetic, senior commanders tell us that it is a community problem or a society problem and that they need people to come forward with information! -People are too scared, especially when the police cannot protect their own officers! Then they repeat the mantra 'lessons have been learned'.
We have heard it all before.
Posted by T J McClean | 21.06.09, 14:45 GMT
Why are Romanians being picked on?? There must be some reason that causes the bigots and racists to take action? The Romanian community need to help themselves as well as receive help from the peace-loving community within N.I. I am not racist or a bigot, but I am entitled to my opinions, and that is the image created in N.I. by the Romanians.
Posted by canuck | 20.06.09, 19:50 GMT
The PSNI refused to turn out at a burglery in progress at a neighbour of mines house. Something to do with Health and Safety apparently. Some vague mention of not wanting to get involved in a car chase due to public safety.
Posted by Merit | 20.06.09, 19:17 GMT
Exactly right.
Tthe police ignored countless 999 calls and calls to the non-emergency number from the crime scene on the first night.
The PSNI allowed this to escalate.
They left citizen volunteers in extreme danger, trying to guard the houses where the Romanian families were hiding because they didn't want to "get involved".
I hope there's an offficial, PUBLIC enquiry into why the PSNI were allowed to behave in such a manner.
Posted by Bill Mair | 20.06.09, 18:48 GMT
Instead of nremoving the Roma people from their homes the police should have provided a presence in the area,and let them remain in their homes. It is like blaming the woman for the rape. The police should have rendered a safe environment for all the people of that area.
the only human rights that appeared to be observed are the rights of the aggressors. Give me a break. Get back to basics. And don't say the police haven t enough staff. Just get the job done
A. Heflin
Posted by Anne Heflin | 20.06.09, 17:37 GMT
Hello,
and very nice to see you back with the Telly.
And doing such great work.
Posted by Mihai | 20.06.09, 17:11 GMT
The key is in the name: Police Service of Northern Ireland. Policing is a part of social services, so cannot leap in to defend the vulnerable, without clashing with a myriad of other social services' interests.
Posted by Charles Smyth | 20.06.09, 10:56 GMT
could not agree with you more an excellent article as always from linda this is true journalism at its best honest, to the point,accurate comments. the rest of the worldof media should take a leaf out of this ladies book, and wise up!
Posted by michael | 20.06.09, 07:13 GMT