Taoiseach condemns Belfast violence and says no one has right to take law into their own hands

Political leaders condemn attacks on homes and warn against efforts to exploit tensions following Belfast unrest

A police cordon at the scene of a stabbing outside apartments in the Kinnaird Avenue area of north Belfast. Picture: PA

The Taoiseach has said that “no one has the right to take the law into their own hands” as the Dáil heard condemnations following a night of violence in Belfast.

Micheál Martin said the events of recent days in Northern Ireland have “filled us with horror”, condemning both an attack that left a man seriously injured after losing an eye and the subsequent violence that broke out on Tuesday night.

He described the attack as “savage” and “horrific”, adding that it had left many people shocked.

Hadi Alodid, 30, has since been remanded in custody after being charged with attempted murder over the knife attack on Stephen Ogilvie on Monday.

The subsequent violence on Tuesday night saw mobs of masked people set homes, a bus and cars on fire, with people allegedly targeted because of their race.

Mr Martin said the violence seen in Belfast must be “roundly condemned”.

“What we witnessed last evening is absolutely appalling, that families would be burned out of their homes because of race or ethnic reasons,” Mr Martin said.

“I would join with all members of this House in condemning unreservedly the attacks of last evening. They were orchestrated.”

The Taoiseach said there is evidence from other countries that similar incidents can be “exploited” and result in violence.

“I think all of us have to be very vigilant and very clear in standing up for fundamental values, particularly human values in terms of the dignity of every single individual in our society.

“We uphold the dignity of every individual and we defend that, irrespective of what transpires or what occurs.”

He added that people must support the rule of law and said Gardaí would work with the PSNI.

The Taoiseach was responding to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who described the knife attack as being the “stuff of nightmares”.

Ms McDonald said the subsequent violence and “racist intimidation” were carried out by masked groups of loyalists and far-right actors.

“Many of those leading this violence are the same people who will burn tricolours on the top of bonfires on the 12th of July,” Ms McDonald said.

The Sinn Féin leader compared the attacks on homes to the events of 1969, when loyalists burned families out of their homes.

“When we said that we would never allow anyone to be treated this way again, we meant it and we meant anyone. Not Irish, not any community,” Ms McDonald said.

“Nobody has the right to spread fear, to intimidate, to terrify innocent families.”