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| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Romanians leave NI after attacks | Romanians leave NI after attacks |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| One hundred Romanians who fled their homes in Belfast after a spate of recent attacks have decided to leave Northern Ireland and return to Romania. | One hundred Romanians who fled their homes in Belfast after a spate of recent attacks have decided to leave Northern Ireland and return to Romania. |
| Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said 25 people had already left and 75 were going to leave as soon as they could, 14 will stay in NI. | Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said 25 people had already left and 75 were going to leave as soon as they could, 14 will stay in NI. |
| Meanwhile, a man has been remanded in custody charged with intimidating Romanian people in Belfast. | Meanwhile, a man has been remanded in custody charged with intimidating Romanian people in Belfast. |
| Shane Murphy, 21, of Donegall Road in the city, denies the charge. | Shane Murphy, 21, of Donegall Road in the city, denies the charge. |
| His solicitor, who had applied for bail on his client's behalf, said Mr Murphy also denied a further charge of acting provocatively by shouting racist comments at a rally held on Lisburn Road in the city last week. | His solicitor, who had applied for bail on his client's behalf, said Mr Murphy also denied a further charge of acting provocatively by shouting racist comments at a rally held on Lisburn Road in the city last week. |
| The judge, sitting at Belfast Magistrates Court, refused a bail application because he said there was a danger Mr Murphy could interfere with witnesses. | The judge, sitting at Belfast Magistrates Court, refused a bail application because he said there was a danger Mr Murphy could interfere with witnesses. |
| On Monday, a 15-year-old boy appeared in court charged in connection with the same incidents. | On Monday, a 15-year-old boy appeared in court charged in connection with the same incidents. |
| A 16-year-old boy appeared alongside him accused of provocative behaviour at the anti-racism rally. | A 16-year-old boy appeared alongside him accused of provocative behaviour at the anti-racism rally. |
| The Housing Executive is paying for the families, members of the Roma ethnic group, to return to Romania using emergency funds. | |
| A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities said it was likely the remaining families would leave before the end of the week. | A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities said it was likely the remaining families would leave before the end of the week. |
| Police have arrested three men in connection with the church attack | Police have arrested three men in connection with the church attack |
| "We have all spoken to the the Romanian families and the majority of them want to go home," he said. | "We have all spoken to the the Romanian families and the majority of them want to go home," he said. |
| City Church, which last week provided temporary overnight shelter for the ethnic Roma, was targeted by vandals on Monday night. | City Church, which last week provided temporary overnight shelter for the ethnic Roma, was targeted by vandals on Monday night. |
| Three men, all aged 20, have been arrested in connection with the attack. | Three men, all aged 20, have been arrested in connection with the attack. |
| Pastor Malcolm Morgan said the church was covered in broken glass. | Pastor Malcolm Morgan said the church was covered in broken glass. |
| "I arrived this morning to find windows smashed at the front of our church and our main glass doorway smashed as well," he said. | "I arrived this morning to find windows smashed at the front of our church and our main glass doorway smashed as well," he said. |
| "Stones were lying scattered on the floor inside and outside and obviously broken glass was everywhere. | "Stones were lying scattered on the floor inside and outside and obviously broken glass was everywhere. |
| "It would be easy to conclude it was carried out by someone who didn't like our response to the Romanians, but that is only guess work. | "It would be easy to conclude it was carried out by someone who didn't like our response to the Romanians, but that is only guess work. |
| "We were just so thrilled that we were able to respond to the Romanian situation and these broken windows wouldn't have stopped us anyway." | "We were just so thrilled that we were able to respond to the Romanian situation and these broken windows wouldn't have stopped us anyway." |
| The church provided shelter for about 20 Romanian familes | The church provided shelter for about 20 Romanian familes |
| Mrs Ritchie said she was saddened, but not shocked at the incident. | Mrs Ritchie said she was saddened, but not shocked at the incident. |
| "The action of these mindless thugs greatly contrasts with the outpouring of warmth and generosity demonstrated by the people of Belfast toward the plight of the Romanians," she said. | "The action of these mindless thugs greatly contrasts with the outpouring of warmth and generosity demonstrated by the people of Belfast toward the plight of the Romanians," she said. |
| "This church community was the first to extend the hand of friendship and that makes it doubly disgraceful that it should be attacked." | "This church community was the first to extend the hand of friendship and that makes it doubly disgraceful that it should be attacked." |
| On Monday night, another two youths, aged 16 and 17, were arrested in connection with provocative conduct and intimidation. | On Monday night, another two youths, aged 16 and 17, were arrested in connection with provocative conduct and intimidation. |
| Police do not believe paramilitaries were involved in last week's attacks, which were condemned by all political parties. | Police do not believe paramilitaries were involved in last week's attacks, which were condemned by all political parties. |
| Are you in Belfast? Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments. | Are you in Belfast? Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |