Séamas O’Reilly: Ballymena violence is the result of politics based on scapegoating any ‘other’

"The central perversity of treating these people as anything other than racist thugs is only more transparent in Ballymena because they have so few migrants that any other excuse is patently absurd."

A PSNI vehicle near to debris on fire on Wednesday night in Ballymena, Co Antrim. Petrol bombs, a hatchet and masonry were among items thrown at police, who responded with water cannon, dogs and plastic baton rounds in an attempt to disperse crowds in the Co Antrim town.

Ballymena is burning. Since Monday, protesters have descended on various streets in the Antrim town, following an alleged sexual assault of a girl. 

Two 14-year-old boys have been charged with attempted rape, both presumed to be of migrant origin as they used a Romanian interpreter in court. Their solicitor said they would be denying the charges.