Irish Examiner view: The anonymity of teenagers appearing in court may be coming to an end

Few people would agree that young people should be able to vote from the age of 16 but should not be identified as a killer if convicted

There are sound reasons to protect the identity of young perpetrators — they are children, often with mental health issues, sometimes from chaotic backgrounds — but there is decreasing public patience with these arguments. Picture: iStock

The depressing scenes of riot and affray in England which filled TV screens and social media for several nights after what have become known as the Taylor Swift dance class murders reveal fast-opening fissures in society, to which we are not immune here. Now, south Belfast can be added to the list of locations where violence has flared.

Depressingly, a cafe and a supermarket were attacked in what has been represented as violence against the Muslim community. There were also demonstrations at hotels used for asylum seekers. Tricolours were among the union flags at an anti-Islamic march which was joined by a delegation, said to be from Coolock, scene of anti-immigrant protests.