Arrest calls after masked mob protests outside Justice Minster Naomi Long's house
There have been calls for arrests and prosecutions after a 40-strong mob, many of them masked, staged a demonstration outside Naomi Long’s family home.
The Justice Minister said last night’s incident, which protesters reportedly livestreamed on social media, crossed a line into “bullying and intimidation”, adding it was “threatening and wholly unacceptable”.
Her husband, Belfast councillor Michael Long, stated that in 25 years in politics “no one has protested at our house” – and said that for the first time in 12 years, a police car had to sit on guard overnight in case of attack.
Leading figures from across Northern Ireland’s political spectrum have roundly condemned the incident, with UUP leader Mike Nesbitt calling for the protesters to be hauled before the courts.
Stating he’s “shocked, horrified and depressed” by the events of Wednesday night, the Health Minister said: “We live in a democracy; in a democracy, you will see things you don’t like. You’ll hear things you don’t agree with. You’ll be upset by decisions politicians make.
“There are acceptable ways to express your opposition. Intimidation is not one of them. I hope the PSNI have gathered enough evidence to lead to prosecution.”
The DUP’s Edwin Poots, speaker of the Assembly, stated Stormont’s founding principle was to democratically “raise, discuss and deal with our differences as a community, not on the streets through violence, intimidation threats and harassment”.
He said: “Politicians will all uphold the right to peaceful protest and expect people to disagree with them and to hold them to account.
“However every politician, whether elected to the Assembly or another forum, is entitled to a personal and family life, and events such as last night well cross the line.”
The point of the protest isn’t yet clear. Alliance deputy leader Eoin Tennyson said he had no doubt some of the crowd would portray themselves as “defenders of women and girls”, and blamed a “toxic atmosphere” he said had been “whipped up” online and in the Assembly, with the Justice Minster being subject to “misinformation, disinformation and misrepresentation”.
Posting on social media site X, formerly Twitter, Mrs Long stated: “Over the last 25 years I’ve been in front-line politics, I’ve engaged with people from all backgrounds and perspectives. I’ve been open to debating and discussing issues, whether we agreed or not.
“Turning up as a mob, some in masks, at my home just isn’t on.
“That line was crossed last night. It isn’t engagement and it isn’t legitimate protest to turn up at my home, disrupt my neighbours, my family and place pressure on police.”
First Minister Michelle O’Neill stated on X: “Turning up at someone’s home is intimidation, not protest. It is never acceptable.”
And SDLP leader Claire Hanna said her party “sends sincere solidarity” to the Longs.
A PSNI spokesman confirmed an investigation is under way after the police “attended a protest outside a property in east Belfast on Wednesday evening”. Added the spokesman: “An evidence-gathering operation was in place and we will now review the footage and consider if any potential offences were committed.”
The Police Federation of Northern Ireland, a body representing the force’s rank and file, replied to Mrs Long on X stating: “We totally condemn this and the detrimental impact it has had on your home life.”