Letter: I’m a former Northern Ireland resident and I'm ashamed of the violence directed at immigrants and their families

There can be no excuses for gangs of thugs targeting innocent people because of their race, nationality, culture, or religion.

Such behaviour is cowardly, disgraceful, and completely unacceptable in any civilised society.

Many of those being abused and threatened are healthcare workers and other essential employees who left their own countries and families to help support Northern Ireland’s hospitals, care facilities, and local communities. Instead of gratitude, they are being met with hostility and fear.

Northern Ireland has already suffered decades of sectarian conflict and violence. One would have hoped that the lessons of the Troubles had been learned.

Sadly, recent events suggest that prejudice, intolerance, and tribalism remain deeply embedded in parts of society. The targets may have changed, but the mindset behind the hatred remains the same.

Political, community, and security leaders must stop issuing predictable statements of condemnation and take meaningful action.

They have a responsibility to protect vulnerable people and to make it clear that racism has no place in Northern Ireland. Failure to do so only emboldens those responsible.

Living in Australia, I have experienced the benefits of a multicultural society where people from different backgrounds live and work together in mutual respect.

We are grateful for the welcome we have received and for the contribution that diversity makes to society.

It is deeply disappointing to look back at the country we left and see that, for some, the narrow-minded attitudes of the past have not disappeared.

Northern Ireland cannot claim to be a modern and welcoming society while immigrants are forced to live in fear.

Decent people must speak out and demand better.

Kieran McPartlan and family, Sydney, Australia