Northern Ireland

NI without Romanian ambassador amid exploitation concerns

Police are investigating "possible wrongdoing" following the online claims
Police are investigating "possible wrongdoing" following the online claims Police are investigating "possible wrongdoing" following the online claims

NORTHERN Ireland is without a Romanian ambassador amid a police probe into concerns of alleged exploitation of south Belfast's Roma community.

The PSNI last month confirmed to The Irish News it is investigating "possible wrongdoing" following allegations involving a Roma community group.

It followed anonymous claims made online involving the Romanian Roma Community Association of North Ireland (RRCANI), based in south Belfast.

It was claimed that Romanians in the area were being exploited, and that concerns had led to Stormont funding for the organisation not being renewed and services moved elsewhere.

RRCANI has not commented, but Sinn Féin MLA Máirtín Ó Muilleoir took to Twitter following the claims to publicly defend the group, saying he was "proud to stand with RRCANI".

Following the claims, intimidating posters appeared on walls in south Belfast which named and made false allegations about two people who had previously worked closely with the Roma community. The incident was reported to police.

SDLP councillor Declan O'Loan had been honorary consul of Romania since 2010, but it has emerged he stood down from the voluntary position in March.

Mr O'Loan said he did not wish to speak about his reasons for leaving the post. However, they are understood to be unrelated to recent developments in south Belfast.

A spokeswoman for the Romanian embassy in London confirmed his departure and said they are considering opening a diplomatic consular bureau in Belfast.

"Recently, the diplomatic mission in London handed on the proposal to the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs," she said.