Northern Ireland Sees Romanians Leave Due to Attacks

Right now in Northern Ireland, a hundred Romanians are preparing to leave their homes in Belfast and head back to Romania. The Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie said that 25 Romanians have already left and 75 more on going to leave very soon. As of right now, only 14 Romanians are expected to stay in Northern Ireland.

All of these Romanians are set to leave Northern Ireland because of the harassment they have been seeing lately. Right now, one man is in custody and being charged with intimidating Romanian people in Belfast. However, Shane Murphy, who is age 21, has denied these charges.

Shane Murphy's solicitor said that Murphy has denied another charge of acting provocatively at a rally held on Lisburn Road by shouting racist comments. The judge at the Belfast Magistrates Court has refused bail applications, because he says that Mr Murphy could interfere with witnesses.

On Monday, a 15 year old and a 16 year old appeared in court and were charged in connection with the same incidents. The Housing Executive is paying for all of the families that want to return to Romania with emergency funds that had been set aside.

A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities said that it is very likely that the few remaining families would all be leaving by the end of the week. He went on to say that they have spoken with all of the Romanian families, and most of them just want to go back home and get away from Northern Ireland.

A church, which was suppose to provided a temporary overnight shelter for Romanians, was targeted by vandals on Monday night as well. The Pastor of the church said that the whole place was covered in broken glass.