Irish far right groups remain on the margins of political life

IN June last year, 20 Roma families, including many small children, were forced to move out of the Village area of Belfast following an organised campaign of harassment against them.

Although those charged in connection with the string of attacks and the distribution of racist leaflets – which allegedly originated with the British Combat 18 far right group – have been teenagers, the campaign is believed to have been supported by former Loyalist paramilitaries.

Racist incidents in Europe and Britain are often connected to far right groups and their more respectable political organisations have undoubtedly in recent years been making electoral gains.