NI Minister denies going missing during Belfast anti-immigration violence

By David Young, Press Association

Stormont’s Communities Minister has denied going missing when anti-immigration violence flared in Northern Ireland in response to a stabbing attack in Belfast.

DUP minister Gordon Lyons suggested the claim levelled by Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason was an attempt to score a “political point”.

Questioning Mr Lyons as he appeared before his Stormont Assembly scrutiny committee, committee vice-chairwoman Ms Mason accused the minister of an “absence of leadership” in response to the race-related rioting and attacks.

The exchanges unfolded as the committee heard that 115 households had presented to Northern Ireland’s Housing Executive citing civil unrest – 76 presenting as homelessness.

The Housing Executive assessed that 38 of those households were in need of temporary accommodation, and they have all been moved to alternative dwellings.

We know that Housing Executive staff stepped up, we know the community organisations stepped up, we know that local neighbours and residents stepped up, but there was one glaring absence - where were you?

Violence flared in several areas in Northern Ireland last week after a graphic video clip emerged of a man being stabbed in north Belfast last Monday night.

The victim, Stephen Ogilvie, who is in his 40s, lost his left eye in the attack and also sustained deep wounds to his head, face and back. He is now out of an induced coma, but his family has said he may also lose sight in his right eye.

Hadi Alodid, 30, appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court last week, charged with attempted murder over the incident.

Sudanese national Alodid entered Northern Ireland across the Irish border by bus in February 2023, having flown to Dublin from Paris.

He then claimed asylum upon arrival and was granted leave to remain in the UK until 2028.

The disorder following the stabbing saw masked mobs set fire to homes, cars and a bus, with people targeted based on their race.

Foreign national healthcare workers were subjected to threats and intimidation.

As of Monday this week, police in Northern Ireland had made 35 arrests and charged 23 people in relation to the disorder.

Ms Mason challenged Mr Lyons on his leadership during the period of unrest as she questioned him during Thursday’s committee session.

“What we saw from Monday night onwards was shocking, it was disgusting, and it was actually frightening,” she said.

“Families were forced from their homes because of downright racist thuggery. Children were left frightened. We know the children are still missing exams in schools at the minute because they’re afraid to go into their schools.

“Parents have been left wondering where they’re going to flee to, fearing for their lives. Now we know that Housing Executive staff stepped up, we know the community organisations stepped up, we know that local neighbours and residents stepped up, but there was one glaring absence – where were you?”

In response, the minister replied: “This is an issue that your party has raised now on a number of occasions.

“I have to say, you’re the only ones that have raised this, and I don’t think that is a fair characterisation whatsoever.

“My position on these issues is absolutely clear. I said it in the Assembly, I was part of a joint Executive statement (of condemnation) last week. I shared other comments to the same effect last week myself.

“There was no justification for it whatsoever. It was wrong. It should not have happened.

“It is outrageous that people were treated in that way, and when it comes to violence and that sort of behaviour, I am crystal clear on where I stand on that, and I stood with other Executive colleagues on that as well.

“My job as a minister is to make sure that my department has what it needs in order to do its job. What we saw last week from the department, I believe, was an appropriate and right response.”

Mr Lyons said he had spoken to people from ethnic minorities in the wake of the attacks and had made himself available to visit families who had been forced to flee their homes.

“I don’t think that you’ll be surprised, as we’ve heard from some people in the media who are affected as well, and they were fearful over what was happening or what comes next,” he said.

“I was speaking to someone who was travelling through one part of Northern Ireland to another, and they were scared simply because of the colour of their skin. That was an outrageous situation for us to find ourselves in at any stage, never mind in 2026, that someone should feel that way.”

Mr Mason said the minister’s staff and the Housing Executive did commendable work in response to the violence.

She added: “I do, however, believe that leadership was absent from yourself in condemning this outright straight away, calling for this thuggery, this racist thuggery, to stop, for those that were out on the streets, causing people to flee from their homes – I do believe that you had a role in calling that out there and then, and condemning that there and then and asking for it to stop.”

Mr Lyons accused the vice chairwoman of making a “political point”.

Ms Mason responded: “Minister, there’s nothing political about children fleeing their homes – that’s actually disgraceful, there’s nothing political about it.”

The minister said: “I think you’re using them (the fleeing children) to make a political point, that’s what you are doing, deputy chairperson. And I’m disappointed that on such a serious issue you haven’t refrained from the temptation to try and stick the boot in.”