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Romanian families are rehoused

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Romanian families move to a local leisure centre
The Romanian families who were forced to flee their homes after a spat of racist attacks have been moved to emergency accommodation in Belfast.

Police are stationed outside the premises and entry is restricted to those with appropriate identification.

The PSNI requested that the location is not disclosed in a bid to avert further incidents.

The families fled after a racist gang - one allegedly brandishing a gun - targeted homes in the university area of the city.

All 114 people who sought shelter in a church on Tuesday night were first moved to a temporary refuge in the Ozone Complex, where they spent the day and were given food and other provisions.

'Not safe'

A mother of two, who only wanted to be known by her first name of Maria, said attacks had been intensifying over the last two weeks but came to a head on Tuesday night in the racist thugs breaking into her house and threatening her and her children.

Others spoke of men armed with guns telling them to leave the country or face being shot.

"We are okay, we are safe now," Maria said in the leisure centre.

"But we want to go home because right now we are not safe here (in Northern Ireland).

"We want to go back home to Romania, everybody right now does.

"I want to go home because I have here two kids and I want my kids to be safe."

Romanian families take refuge in a local church

Criticism

Police have rejected claims that they had been slow to respond to the racist incidents.

Some families have alleged that 999 calls made earlier in the week were not answered and police only intervened to a significant extent after Tuesday night's incidents.

But Superintendent Chris Noble said his officers had done their utmost to help the families.

He also dampened speculation that loyalist paramilitaries might have been behind the attacks.

The officer said there was no information that a paramilitary group had instigated the violence and said the perpetrators were a number of individuals who had acted spontaneously.

Leading UDA figure in south Belfast, Jackie McDonald arrived at the leisure centre claiming he wanted to help the families who had been caught up in the attacks.

But he and three colleagues were stopped from entering the premises by a police officer outside.

Mr McDonald said he utterly condemned the targeting of the families.

He added that work was going on within the community to ensure that those involved stop.

"We're trying to talk to young people to encourage them not to do what they are doing," he said.

Talks

Martin McGuinness and Jeffrey Donaldson condemn the attacks

On Wednesday, talks were held between police, community representatives, politicians and other officials to draw up an action plan aimed at making the families feel safe to stay.

Belfast Lord Mayor Naomi Long paid tribute to all the well wishers who had donated food and blankets to the families.

"The people inside are very fearful and it is very important that we try in the next 24 hours to provide them first of all with some rest and reassurance so that they can take measured decisions," she said.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Junior Minister Jeffrey Donaldson also visited the families.

Mr McGuinness said: "We are going to do everything in our power to ensure these criminals, these racist criminals, don't have their way."

DUP MP Mr Donaldson said it was important that ordinary people in Northern Ireland stood together and send out a clear message that racism was not acceptable.

"I think it is important that the whole community shows a united front against this kind of racism and the message that goes out from Northern Ireland is not a negative message of racism, or of the kind of headlines that we've seen of Belfast being the racist capital of Europe," he said.

"I don't believe it is, I believe the vast and overwhelming majority of people here deplore racism and it's important from the leadership down in Northern Ireland that we make that absolutely clear."

The UK's Romanian General Consul will meet with Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie on Thursday morning.

© Press Association

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At 21:27 on 24 June 2009, seamas wrote:
Young Loyalist. Before this hit the headlines you didn’t care about homeless people local or otherwise. The point of “Them” being here is that as European nationals they’re entitled to come here.
At 23:18 on 23 June 2009, red wrote:
if the romanians were able to afford the fares to get to NI, how is it that they now have no money to leave here? did they come here with the intention of making full use of our generous benefits system. i dont think that we"d get the same help in romania. they wouldnt be as soft as we are over here!
At 16:01 on 22 June 2009, Jo wrote:
I don't like to see families being intimidated out of their homes. But in this case, it was blown right out of proportion from being 17 Romanians to 100 in a matter of hours! Also, it is a disgrace that Romanians beg on our streets and use their kids as sympathy. Sorry if that also sounds Racist, but it is the view of many people.
At 21:16 on 18 June 2009, Young Ulster Loyalist. wrote:
Seamas. There are poor people in our own communities who are living rough and find it hard to make a living. There is old people who have to make a choice between heating or eating and you want to invite the world's poor here?! What exactly does an immigrant who begs do for our country? Or sell magazines on street corners? What exactly is the point in them being here?
At 18:17 on 18 June 2009, Emma wrote:
I think its a disgrace that 100 Romanians can be rehoused by the housing ex in hours when people have been on a waiting list for years!
At 02:39 on 18 June 2009, Steven wrote:
How interesting to see the comments here is just another way of saying "You shouldn't be here". So many excuses like as if the attackers are the victims, typical.
At 22:43 on 17 June 2009, paul wrote:
i dont agree with it but 100 romanians got house within hours . ye would not see as many people from northern ireland gettin housed so fast as the romanians did.....
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