August 26th 2026

Information released by the PSNI to The Detail website following a freedom of information request shows that one in seven of those arrested during the violent disorder that took place in Ballymena and elsewhere in June 2025 has since been reported to the PSNI for domestic abuse. The Detail previously revealed that a third of those arrested in connection with the Ballymena riots had been the subject of a domestic abuse report before their involvement in the disorder.

This is not just a local blight. The Detail notes that “police data from the past three years has consistently shown that a significant number of those arrested for their involvement in racist violence across the UK also had a history of domestic violence".

These data must surely act as a myth buster and give the lie to those using the excuse that this hate fest was and is about protecting women and children. Even those who choose to believe this narrative to justify their cowardly behaviour when seeing women and children fleeing from burning homes must now realise their only motivation was hatred. These actions have nothing to do with protecting women and children.

Those who were reported for Domestic Violence offences have shown the hypocrisy of the anti-migrant protests These were not individuals who were concerned about social and economic inequalities, if it was the would have been joining in protests to fight against poverty, health inequalities, the multiple deprivations, and lack of public housing. All the issues most prevalent in working-class areas including the ones they were rampaging through.

Those from ethnic minorities in these communities are not to blame for the neglect of working-class communities. This is the fault of our politicians who have failed to deliver public services on which we depend.

The claim by far-right elements that they are protecting women and girls from predatory foreigners is the biggest myth of all. Most of the violence and abuse against women in Northern Ireland and beyond is inflicted by white, local men who are known to their victims. Stop doing a disservice to the very real problem of violence against women and girls by believing their false narrative. Racism, misogyny, sectarianism, homophobia all spring from the same hateful mindset and have no place in our society.

Ursula Meighan is Chair of the Workers Party Women's Committee