ALL BUT 14 of the 117 members of the Roma community forced from their homes in south Belfast in the face of racist attacks and intimidation have decided to return to Romania.
SDLP Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie announced yesterday that her department was providing the finance to repatriate some 20 families to Romania. Already 25 of the Roma have returned with the remainder about to return, she said.
News of the decision of the families came shortly after an attack on the City Church close to central Belfast which provided initial refuge for the Romanians last week before emergency temporary housing was found for them.
Windows in the church were smashed on Monday night.
Three 20-year-old men were arrested yesterday in connection with the attack on the church. Two more males, aged 17 and 16, were also arrested yesterday in connection with the attacks on the Romanians.
Ms Ritchie said that one family of seven, and seven single men, had decided to stay in Northern Ireland. She said that the Northern Housing Executive, which comes under her department, would pay for the flights from emergency funds.
“Overall this is a disappointing but unsurprising outcome and there is no doubt that the racist intimidation of these people has been damaging for the image of Northern Ireland,” said the Minister.
“I have been humbled by the these hard-working people and I believe that the experiences we have shared with them shows how far we have still to go as a community. I will be asking my fellow Ministers to consider what more we can do,” she said.
Last week the English television presenter Esther Rantzen caused controversy when she said in the wake of the attack on the Romanians that Northern Ireland people were “addicted to hatred”.
Ms Ritchie rejected this characterisation, saying the vast majority of Northern Ireland people opposed racism and this was reflected in the outpouring of support and sympathy for the Romanians.
DUP Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said Ms Rantzen should apologise for her remarks. She said the North had “witnessed nothing like the same degree of inter-racial strife that exists on the UK mainland” and that Ms Rantzen “made a grave error of judgment in using the actions of a few mindless thugs to tar everyone in Northern Ireland”.
First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness condemned the attack on the City Church.
“There is a need for us all to stand united not only in words of condemnation, but also in our actions,” said Mr McGuinness.
Mr Robinson added: “Recent events here have damaged the image and reputation of Northern Ireland throughout the world. I would call on every right thinking person to condemn these attacks and to show the world that they are supported only by a minority of small minded thugs.”
PSNI chief constable Sir Hugh Orde said while he respected the Romanians’ decision to return home his officers had done their best to ensure they would be safe had they stayed.
“I respect anyone’s right to live where they want to and my job is to keep them safe where they want to stay. Indeed, having met the Romanian ambassador, he was very positive in my office with my colleagues about what we had done to keep those people safe,” he added.
The North’s direct rule security minister Paul Goggins said more must be done for migrants to feel confident coming to Northern Ireland to work.