Northern Ireland

Romanian group hits out at video showing racist abuse

Footage of youths racially harassing a Romanian woman in Antrim
Footage of youths racially harassing a Romanian woman in Antrim

POLICE say they have made arrangements to speak to three youths in Antrim seen racially abusing a Romanian woman in a Facebook video.

It comes as an organisation for Romanians living in Ireland described the footage as "disgraceful" and urged authorities to "deal with this matter in the most serious way possible".

There has been outrage over the video involving three teenage boys, one of whom appears to throw a stone at the woman.

When she asks why they do not respect girls, they reply: "You are not a girl... You're an immigrant and you shouldn't be in this country."

Police say they have identified the boys involved, two aged 15 and a 16-year-old.

A PSNI spokeswoman last night said: "Arrangements have been made to speak to all three boys this week."

Dublin-based organisation Romanians in Ireland yesterday said it was an "incident that we wouldn't expect to happen on the island of Ireland in 2016".

"It is sad to see that in a community with plenty of foreigners we have to endure racism attacks and abusive behaviour towards immigrants, especially children," a spokeswoman said.

"It is hard enough to start a new life in another country, and Irish people have a strong past on this and should know better how hard it is to accommodate in a new community.

"We do hope authorities will deal with this matter in the most serious way possible and we encourage Irish people to understand and support immigrant families."

Two of the boys' mothers have said they were "absolutely disgusted" by the footage.

One told how she handed her son in to the PSNI and brought him to visit the Romanian woman to apologise.

The victim has said that while she was scared at the time, she won't be leaving Northern Ireland.