13/06/2025
Blog: Geraldine McGahey, Chief Commissioner Equality Commission
This Is Not Who We Are: Racism, Violence, and the Urgent Need for Leadership in Northern Ireland
I know Ballymena. I know Larne. I worked there for many years. I know the people, the families, the community spirit. That’s why the images from recent days have been so deeply painful.
Watching violence unfold in a place I once helped lead, seeing Larne Leisure Centre, a shared, valued community space, being attacked and hearing the fear in the voices of residents has left me heartbroken. This is not who we are.
Although the disgraceful violence this week has hit the headlines, this is not a standalone moment. It’s the
culmination of a growing tide of racist hate and intimidation in Northern Ireland that has gone unchecked for too long. Now, in 2025, we see families feeling they must display their ethnicity on their front doors just to stay safe. That should stop us all in our tracks.
A lot of what we have seen this week has gone far beyond protest. It is mob violence. It is racially motivated thuggery, and it must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
We must ask: how did we get here, and more importantly, how do we move forward?
Amid the unrest, we must not lose sight of a deeply serious allegation: a teenage girl has reportedly suffered a serious sexual assault. She will be experiencing significant trauma, and she, her family and her friends will need support as they navigate the difficult road ahead. Her suffering should not also be used as a pretext for racist violence and to justify attacking sections of our society.
Tackling sexual violence must be a priority
Sexual violence is a serious and longstanding issue in our society, which has a disproportionate impact on women and children. It exists across all communities, and must be addressed wherever it occurs. It cannot be used to as an excuse to target entire groups.
Our legal and educational systems must do more to protect victims, address root causes, and invest in meaningful prevention. Tackling sexual violence must be a priority, not an afterthought.
Inequality and division are being exploited
Violence doesn’t happen in a vacuum. We must acknowledge how decades of policy decisions have created real challenges across Northern Ireland. There is a chronic lack of social and affordable housing.
Years of austerity have hollowed out services and support. And these pressures are being felt most acutely by those on lower incomes - mainly women, disabled people, and people from minority ethnic communities.
It’s essential we say this clearly:
Ethnic minorities are not the cause of these issues.
Migration to Northern Ireland has been comparatively low. Our neighbours from minority ethnic backgrounds are not to blame for the housing shortage. They are not responsible for the state of some of our public services. And attacking them will not solve the cost-of-living crisis.
What is fuelling the violence is racism, misinformation and disinformation, especially online. At the same time, some reporting choices risk inflaming tensions. While the fact that two 14-year-olds have been charged with attempted rape is a serious matter, reporting that they required a Romanian interpreter added nothing to public understanding and risks reinforcing harmful narratives. This is a moment that calls for responsible journalism.
Leadership requires more than condemnation
It is right that political leaders have condemned the violence. But condemnation alone is not enough. Leadership is needed to provide clear, proactive direction, long before situations escalate to the point of crisis.
Unfortunately, what we've seen so far are strategies full of high-level aspirations, but light on tangible commitments. The recently published Refugee Integration Strategy, whilst containing some positive elements, lacks specific actions, a budget or accountability.
The same applies to the current Racial Equality Strategy, which is nearing its conclusion. As it stands
, it has been largely ineffective in improving outcomes for minority ethnic communities. If we are serious about ending racial inequality, this cannot continue. We need strategies that are resourced, accountable, and led with urgency.
We also need legislative reform, including updates to hate crime and racial equality laws that reflect what people are facing today. The Government must introduce stronger measures to ensure social media platforms do not continue to be breeding grounds of hate and disinformation.
Education: where change begins
Our education system has a vital role to play. Schools are where we can challenge prejudice before it becomes entrenched. Where we can foster empathy, understanding, and inclusion from the earliest age.
Research from Queen’s University shows that many children from ethnic minority backgrounds are experiencing bullying and racism at school. We must do more to train teachers, to support schools in responding to incidents, and to embed anti-racism in the curriculum itself.
Education is where prevention begins.
Standing against hate
To our ethnic minority communities: I want you to know that the Equality Commission stands with you. You are not alone.
You are a vital part of this society, working in our hospitals and academia, contributing to our economy and enriching our culture. You deserve to live safely and with dignity.
And to everyone else in Northern Ireland: most of us are horrified by what we’ve seen. But horror is not enough. This is a moment to stand up, speak out, and look after each other.
We all have a role in building a Northern Ireland that is fairer, safer, and stronger for everyone.