Editorial: Violence across Northern Ireland was disgraceful and unforgivable, despite genuine fears over migration

​When this newspaper went to press last evening it was unclear whether there would be significant violence after the attack on a man in north Belfast.

​In the end, there were disgraceful scenes in various parts of Northern Ireland, with vehicles including a bus being burnt out and houses destroyed. Terrified residents fled from their homes, as masked men in places roamed down streets kicking down doors.

This was shameful and wicked conduct. The most severe offenders put life at risk and must face hefty prison terms.

Political leaders from across the spectrum appealed to protestors not to engage in such candidate. The family of the man who was attacked has since added its voice to those appealing for calm.

As business leaders and a Stormont MLA write opposite, not only is the violence despicable, it targets people who come here to work – indeed carry out jobs that the local population often spurns. Immigrants are at the heart of the health service in Northern Ireland. The trouble is also disastrous for Northern Ireland’s reputation, which we had gradually but relentlessly been improving after the long years of terrorism.

It is not inconsistent to express outrage at the violence, and dismay that concerns about immigration have been dismissed for so many years. In particular, there has been a tendency to dismiss loyalist communities as more racist than nationalist ones. But the surplus of available housing in loyalist areas has meant to many immigrants being placed there.

Some of the poorest people in the province live amidst significant cultural change and competition for jobs that people in middle class areas do not. The violence is disgraceful. The loss of control of our borders is too.