https://thedetail.tv/articles/almost-half-ni-race-rioters-reported-for-domestic-abuse/
By Luke Butterly
07 August 2025
Almost half those arrested for race hate disorder in Belfast last August had previously been reported to the PSNI for domestic abuse, The Detail can reveal.
The police data, obtained through a freedom of information (FOI) request, highlights a significant overlap between public violent disorder and domestic violence.
Sonya McMullan, regional services manager at Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland, said the figures were unfortunately not surprising.
“These displays of public violence and disorder on our streets were meant to be a reaction to violence against women and girls, yet those who were creating this disorder themselves had histories of domestic abuse,” she said.
The murder of three children in Southport at the end of July 2024 sparked riots in south Belfast and in towns and cities across England.
Far-right activists and social media accounts often justified violent protests as a reaction to wanting to protect women and children.
Seven businesses in Sandy Row, Donegall Road and Botanic were sacked in targeted attacks by rioters following a far-right anti-immigrant march on August 3 2024.
In the following days, unrest and attacks on the homes and businesses of those from ethnic minority backgrounds continued.
There were 48 people arrested in relation to the disorder, of which 23 had been reported for domestic abuse. The figures for Northern Ireland – 48% – were higher than the UK average (41%).
Groups working with women in Northern Ireland said that the figures showing high rates of race rioters with histories of domestic abuse here were not surprising.
“The figures are extremely important to highlight, because they show what we in the women's movement have said from the start; that violence and racism did not stem from a righteous revulsion at violence against women and girls,” said Elaine Crory, from the Women’s Resource and Development Agency (WRDA).
“From the very start, the violence itself made victims of more women and girls and destroyed people's homes and their sense of safety – all hallmarks of domestic abuse offenders.
“Politicians who give cover to this kind of argument really need to face this and seek to understand how their language can actually lead to justifying violence against women and girls. Ideally, they should withdraw their comments and endeavour to learn from experts in the field.”
Women’s Aid told a parliamentary committee last year that PSNI statistics – which already show domestic abuse accounting for 1 in 5 of all crime – are only the “tip of the iceberg in terms of the epidemic that domestic abuse is in our society.”
Ms McMullan, from Women’s Aid NI, said there is a normalisation of violence on our streets, as well as against women.
“In Northern Ireland we are a society coming out of conflict, a society experiencing inter-generational trauma and over the years have seen a normalisation of violence on our streets, Ms McMullan said.
“It is clear that these latest outbursts of public disorder caused intimidation and fear within communities and caused many to have to leave their homes.
“The issue of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland is at crisis point, we need to act now, resource services appropriately, manage the issue of serial, repeat offenders and hold them to account to keep everyone safe on the streets and behind closed doors.”
Some of those arrested were children – the youngest being just 11 years old.
Most of the children and young people engaged in the disorder were not previously known to the police, according to internal documents from a multi-agency meeting at the time, obtained through a separate FOI request.
The document states that the PSNI were “concerned about extremism, radicalisation and exploitation of children”, while the Department Of Justice’s Youth Justice Agency “advised when (we) dig into radicalisation (we) often find other vulnerabilities like domestic circumstance.”
Nic Murray contributed reporting.
by Browns_right_foot
27 comments
Thought they were protecting women and children?
So they aren’t angry about violence against women. They are angry someone else other than them was potentially going to abuse women.
“PROETCKT AR WOMUN AN CHILDERN”
Completely unsurprised and I bet a large number have sexual assaults as well.
The ‘pRoTeCt ArE wIMmUn’ brigade are replete with nonces, abusers and scum of the highest order.
I can guarantee the same pattern exists in every one of the so called anti immigrant protests on the island. And that that pattern is repeated everywhere in the world where bigotry is on display. People who are xenophobic bigots always overlap with misogyny and homophobia, transphobia etc.
Domestic abusers should have to be put on a list just like sex offenders.
No surprises here. I’m assuming the rest of them are up for rape charges, pedophilia and other nasty stuff?
I swear this whole situation is just an excuse for race riots and pogroms.
If not a kick in the arse of half of the people from your protest that have been pretty randomly surveyed are guilty for one of the things you are protesting against well fuck that looks pretty bad
Watch The Fall. It’s a good show.
No one gets ta beat are wimen sept us!!! Locals only !!!!!? 😡👊🏻😂
How many children were arrested? If you discount the number of children from the total, the % number of adult abusers in the group will presumably rise well above the 48% quoted.
It’s not in the last surprising as the same is being seen all over the country. One man who spoke at a “Limerick says no” rally a short while ago it’s currently on remand on a murder charge after an elderly man was beaten to death in Limerick. One of the “Coolock says no” group’s most call supporters was jailed in England a couple of months ago for drug dealing. Another of the same group has a conviction for battering his wife, and these are only the ones we know about. There are a number of well known drug dealers involved in these groups around Dublin, with one group in Blanchardstown having a convicted paedophile and two heroin dealers at all their rallies.
Every accusation from these reptiles is a projection
In other news, dog bites man.
Is anyone surprised that the absolute wankers are absolute wankers?
It’s great, they are protecting women by getting themselves locked up.
You’re not trying to tell me that the people who were so quick to resort to violence are ALSO quick to raise a hand at home??
Well I am SHOCKED /s
Shocking, but not surprising.
So cunts have been caught cunting before, not much of a shocker there
Racists in being horrible cunts shocker.
Quelle surprise
Who would have thought that animals that were violent out in public, would also be violent in private? Shocked! Shocked I say!
surely this cant be right?
What about a ban from all electronic devices for these morons? Just like the pedos. Brainwashed by shite in social media.
https://i.redd.it/0x4367b98lhf1.gif
So it’s all psychological projection. They believe everyone treats women that way because that’s what’s normal to them, and their racism is built from a fear that foreigners will come and take the women they see as belonging to them.
All right wing politics comes from fear, and far right politics comes from deranged fears.
23 arrested out of thousands protesting had previous domestic abuse charges. Were these people convicted of rioting or arrested for being there and known to the PSNI?
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