Police investigate racist attacks

Police in County Antrim are investigating the circumstances behind two racist attacks on houses in the outskirts of Belfast.

Three windows were smashed at a house in Seymour Hill Mews in the Dunmurry area of the city at around 11.30pm last night, while a short time later paint was thrown over two windows of a house in Rowan Drive.

It is understood that Lithuanian nationals lived in both addresses.

Police have confirmed that they believe both incidents to be linked.

These attacks come after a number of other racially motivated incidents over the weekend.

In the first incident three women were assaulted in their home in the Cloughy Road in Cloughy, County Down.

Police have revealed that around five masked men armed with baseball bats forced their way into the house at around 11.30pm on Saturday night, and assaulted the women.

The women suffered cuts, bruises and minor head injuries.

On Sunday, the oil tank of a house in Burleigh Drive in Carrickfergus was set on fire.

The rear of the house, which is occupied by Polish nationals, sustained extensive damage during the blaze, which started at around 8am.

No one was injured during the incident.

In a separate incident yesterday afternoon, a Lithuanian was assaulted in a house in the Riverside South area of Castledawson, in County Londonderry.

One man was arrested and released on bail following the attack.

Meanwhile, a Latvian man was treated in hospital after being attacked in Lisburn, Co Antrim.

It is understood that two men, armed with baseball bats, attacked the man on the Moira Road area of the city.

The victim suffered serious head and eye injuries.

The attacks coincided with the publication of a new report into racist violence in Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (Nicem) identified institutionalised racism in the criminal justice system and asked how it should be addressed.

The report, entitled 'The Next Stephen Lawrence?- Racist Violence And Criminal Justice In Northern Ireland,' states that racist violence has been increasing at an alarming rate in the province over recent years, against anyone considered to be an outsider.

Dr Robbie McVeigh, who wrote the report said: "The scale of the violence is frightening enough but the failure of different elements in criminal justice to deal effectively with that violence is just as problematic.

"It is, we believe, unambiguous evidence of institutional racism right across the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland."

Commenting on the attacks, Criminal Justice Minister David Hanson, today said that hate crime has no place in any modern society and must be condemned by all right thinking people.

The Minister was speaking after he visited the Royal Victoria Hospital to meet a victim of a racist attack. The Minister also visited Dunmurry to see for himself the attack on a home in the area.

David Hanson said: “I utterly condemn the attacks that have taken place over the weekend. My thoughts are with those who were attacked.

“These hate attacks have shocked and appalled all right thinking people.

“I call on all the local communities and the residents in those areas, to give information to the police as to who is responsible so that this is stamped out.

“I also call for leadership from all political representatives to form a united front on a cross party basis to tackle this together.”

The Minister added: “Incidents of hate crime rose by 15% in Northern Ireland last year. This is unacceptable. Hate crime is wrong and intolerance of any kind has no place in a modern society. The Government is fully committed to confronting all types of intolerance.

“Laws introduced in 2004 increased the maximum sentences available for violent offences motivated by racism. The legislation also directs the courts to take account during sentencing of any offence where there is evidence that the offence has been motivated by religious, race, disability or sexual prejudice.

“The Government will continue to confront all manifestations of hate crime and I call on everyone in Northern Ireland to join us in sending out a clear message that this type of crime will not be tolerated.”

Detectives have appealed for anyone who may have witnessed any of the attacks or who may have any information in relation to any of the incidents, to contact them on 0845 600 8000, or anonymously on the Crimestoppers number on 0800 555 111.

(EF/GB)