Racism and hate have no place in Northern Ireland, First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said, strongly condemning recent incidents that have spurred concerns over the spread of far-right ideologies and rising anti-migrant sentiments.
A series of troubling events, including days of anti-immigrant protests in Ballymena in June and last week’s anti-migrant bonfire in the village of Moygashel featuring effigies of refugees in a boat, have raised fears of increasing influence of far-right forces.
“It was thuggery orchestrated in some parts by loyalism,” O’Neill told Anadolu. “It was racist, it was ugly, and it was hatred. I say no to that in society.”
Recent studies indicate anti-migrant mobilisation across Ireland has entered a more organised and structured phase, moving beyond the fragmented protests seen in late 2022.
Acknowledging public concerns about the growth of far-right ideology, O’Neill said: “Of course, when you see things like this, it’s proper that we’ll be anxious about it, because that’s not something that I want to take hold in my community.”
She drew a direct link between local anti-migrant sentiment and a broader global rise in far-right extremism, particularly fueled by misinformation online.
“I think that we are right to be concerned across the world in terms of the far right, where they are spreading misinformation on social media, for example,” she said. “We live in a world that’s increasingly in flux… there are many people who are seeking refuge from conflict, from war, from poverty.”
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O’Neill emphasised the importance of creating an inclusive society, rejecting the divisive narratives advanced by extremist groups.
“There are many people that also travel to make their home with us, for economic migration. They’ve decided that it’s a good opportunity for their family. We need to make space for all of that. We need to be inclusive. We need to create a society that is welcoming, and certainly as First Minister, that’s what my priority is.”
On the influence of prominent right wing figures such as Nigel Farage, O’Neill emphasised her own vision for an inclusive and fair society: “It’s not for me to comment on how the British people will vote in any potential future election. That’s completely over to them. I know what I stand for, which is a society that’s inclusive, welcoming, warm – a society that’s fair and based on equality.”
O’Neill concluded with a firm call to action, stressing the urgency of steps to counter dangerous rhetoric and anti-immigrant sentiments.
“I want to call it out for what it is, and I don’t believe that is the view of the vast majority of people at home. I don’t want to see it anywhere at all, and we all must turn our efforts to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.”
In June, Ballymena experienced significant unrest due to riots sparked by the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) charged two 14-year-old boys, who spoke through a Romanian interpreter, with attempted rape.
The incident ignited tensions, reportedly due to longstanding issues with the Roma community, leading to racially-motivated riots targeting ethnic minorities and law enforcement.
Over two weeks, 107 police officers were injured and 56 people were arrested (27 remanded).
Social media posts described the unrest as a “pogrom” targeting minorities.
The Ballymena riots likely contributed to heightened tensions that carried into July in nearby Moygashel where a controversial loyalist bonfire took place on July 10 as part of the Eleventh Night celebrations commemorating the 1690 Battle of the Boyne.
The bonfire featured a provocative effigy – a model boat with about a dozen life-sized, dark-skinned mannequins in lifejackets – accompanied by placards reading “Stop the Boats” and “Veterans Before Refugees,” alongside an Irish tricolour flag.
The display was widely condemned as racist and a hate crime by politicians and the Church of Ireland’s Archbishop John McDowell, who called it “vile,” “deplorable” and “offensive.”
The Moygashel Bonfire Committee defended it as a protest against “illegal immigration,” not racism, with loyalist activist Jamie Bryson calling it “artistic political expression.”
The PSNI investigated it as a hate incident but did not intervene, citing lower risk compared to dismantling it.
