Northern Ireland’s First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, has called for the resignation of Communities Minister Gordon Lyons following a controversial social media post that she claims incited racial tensions. The incident centers around an arson attack on the Larne Leisure Centre in County Antrim, which had been temporarily housing families displaced by unrest in Ballymena.
Lyons, a member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), posted on social media expressing concerns about the relocation of these families and suggesting that the community had not been adequately consulted. Hours later, masked youths set fire to the leisure centre. O’Neill and other political leaders have criticized Lyons’ comments as “reckless” and “irresponsible,” arguing that they contributed to inflaming tensions that led to the violence.
The unrest in Ballymena had been sparked by a sexual assault case involving two teenage boys, which led to targeted attacks against ethnic minorities. The violence has since spread to other towns, including Portadown and Belfast, with 41 police officers injured and 14 individuals arrested. Police Chief Jon Boutcher described the ongoing unrest as racially motivated and condemned the attacks as “racist thuggery.”
In response to the arson attack, the affected families have been relocated, and authorities are investigating the fire. The controversy has also prompted a referral to the Assembly standards commissioner for a review of Lyons’s conduct. The Northern Ireland Secretary, Hilary Benn, has urged Lyons to reflect on his role in the incident.
The DUP has defended Lyons, stating that his post aimed to dispel rumors about the relocation and was not intended to incite violence. However, the incident has raised concerns about the role of social media in fueling racial tensions and the responsibility of public officials in their online communications.
As investigations continue, the political fallout from the incident is ongoing, with calls for greater accountability and measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
