Charges Withdrawn in Case That Sparked Northern Ireland Unrest
Prosecutors in Northern Ireland have taken the dramatic step of dropping all charges against two Romanian teenagers accused of raping a schoolgirl in Ballymena. The allegations, which emerged in June, had ignited widespread race riots and targeted attacks against immigrant communities across County Antrim.
The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) announced its decision on Friday, pointing to significant evidential developments that emerged in the case. These developments meant the legal test for prosecution could no longer be met, leading to the immediate termination of criminal proceedings against the boys, aged 14 and 15.
Violent Aftermath and Community Exodus
The initial allegation on 7 June acted as a catalyst for severe civil unrest. For three consecutive nights, masked mobs terrorised immigrant communities in Ballymena, attacking foreign-owned homes and businesses. The violence was predominantly aimed at ethnic Roma immigrants from Eastern Europe, but also affected individuals from the Philippines, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic.
In a desperate attempt to protect themselves, some residents displayed signs stating their nationality, such as Filipino lives here, while others erected Union flags and loyalist bunting. The disturbances were not contained to Ballymena, with copycat riots spreading to other towns including Larne and Portadown.
The impact on the local Roma population was devastating. According to one informed source with ties to the community, approximately two-thirds of the pre-riot Roma population of 1,200 have since left the Ballymena area, though official figures are not available.
Court Proceedings and Police Appeal
Belfast Youth Court formally granted the prosecution's request to withdraw the charges, paving the way for the boys' release from the juvenile detention centre where they had been held since their arrest. Due to their age, the identities of the accused have not been made public.
District Judge George Conner remarked on the sensitivity of the case, stating, This is a very sensitive case, but the matters are now marked withdrawn. The less I say about it the better.
Following the collapse of the case, Detective Chief Inspector Stephanie Finlay made a public appeal. She urged people not to speculate, particularly on social media, and reassured potential victims of sexual crime that they would be dealt with sensitively and offered support if they came forward.
The case had become a focal point for anti-immigrant sentiment in Ballymena, a town that is 95% white according to the 2021 census. The recent influx of workers from Eastern Europe, many employed in local food processing plants, had previously prompted complaints from some residents.
