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<\/p>\nA local authority has asked Stormont for help with a recovery plan after recent rioting in Co Antrim.<\/p>\n
Violence erupted in Ballymena in June after the alleged sexual assault of a girl in the town.<\/p>\n
Two 14-year-old boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, were charged with attempted rape.<\/p>\n
A peaceful protest in the Co Antrim town about the alleged assault was followed by attacks on police and properties housing ethnic minorities, described by police as \u201cracist thuggery\u201d.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The disturbances lasted for several nights and spread to other areas of Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
They included an arson attack on Larne Leisure Centre after rumours that some fleeing Ballymena had sheltered in the facility.<\/p>\n
At their first meeting since the violence, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council agreed to write to the First and Deputy First Ministers to ask for support to draw up a recovery plan.<\/p>\n
Mayor Jackson Minford urged councillors to show leadership.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur ambition is that Mid and East Antrim would be a safe, inclusive and welcoming borough where diversity and cultural differences are celebrated and communities live in peace,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The council\u2019s interim chief executive, Valerie Watts, proposed the development of a strategic reset plan to support long-term recovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is vital that we work closely with other public agencies and private sector stakeholders to develop and deliver a robust plan that will deal with inclusion, cohesion and rebuilding trust within our communities,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFundamentally, what is required is a strategic plan to help reset communities and move on, but also learn from what did take place.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the plan should also address wider societal issues and policies such as immigration or housing policy or policies clearly ending violence against women and girls, race relations.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cThe plan needs to be informed by and complement any existing peace building, community cohesion and socio-economic strategies and to ensure its success, the long-term commitment of all the relevant agencies and private sector stakeholders will be absolutely necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
The council backed a proposal for her to write to First Minister Michelle O\u2019Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly for support for the proposed plan.<\/p>\n
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