Man from Roma community left 'living in fear' after knuckle-duster attack

Florin says he fears anti-Roma sentiment has spread across Northern Ireland since riots in the summer

A member of the Roma (Gypsy) community, who reported being threatened by a man wielding a knuckle-duster in what police treated as a racially motivated hate crime, has said he and others are living in fear.

The man, who is being referred to as Florin to protect his identity, said the incident happened near his home in County Armagh in June – just days after violent riots in Ballymena, County Antrim.

The riots, which later spread to Larne and Portadown, were described by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) as "racist thuggery".

Florin, who is in his 50s, said he feared anti-Roma sentiment had since spread across Northern Ireland.

He told BBC News NI he was chased by a man with a knuckle-duster and told to go back to his own country.

He said the incident had left him afraid to leave his house.

The PSNI confirmed it investigated the report as a racially motivated hate crime.

In a statement, it said all lines of inquiry had been completed and that it was now dependent on new information coming to light to progress.

Violence took hold in June 2025 in several towns in Northern Ireland

The chief executive of a Roma-led charity, which has direct links with the community in Northern Ireland, said Roma people across the board were still afraid.

Simona Lazar, from Union Romani Voice, said some families were worried about going to the shop or sending children to school.

Florin said the incident he experienced in County Armagh happened just days after the violent street disorder in Ballymena saw the homes of foreign nationals burnt out.

The trouble came after a peaceful protest was held in response to the alleged serious sexual assault of a teenage girl in the town.

Two teenage boys, who spoke through a Romanian interpreter in court, were charged in connection with the alleged attack.

'Complex' situation in Ballymena

Some members of the local community in Ballymena have long raised what they have said are "genuine concerns" about the growing number of Roma people in the town – dating as far back as 2018.

Complaints about crime, as well as anti-social behaviour and dumping rubbish, have been levelled at the Roma, with those voicing concerns insisting they are not racist.

At a recent Mid and East Antrim Borough Council meeting, the interim chief executive Valerie Watts said the situation in Ballymena was "complex" and that a recovery plan was needed to address the causes of the disorder and to work towards a "shared vision of a better future for all our residents".

She also confirmed the council had been in contact with the Romanian Embassy since the disorder.

The term Roma refers to the Romany people of Eastern and Central Europe, and the Middle East.

Many, but not all, Roma people are from Romania.

The riots in Ballymena were described by the PSNI as "racist thuggery"

Florin spoke to BBC News NI on the condition of anonymity due to continued concerns for his safety following his alleged experience.

"I have problems sleeping, but for one week after that I could not sleep at all," he said, speaking through a Romanian interpreter.

"And once it becomes a darker evening, I literally cannot go out onto the street. I'm afraid."

Asked if he feared for his life, he said: "Yes, I do."

He said he did not want to inflame tensions by speaking out, but rather hoped that people would appreciate that "not all Roma are the same" and that many just want to live their lives, go to work and feed their children.

But he said he knew of some who were too scared to go to work or send their kids to school.

As well as speaking to Florin, BBC News NI contacted a number of people who work with the Roma across Northern Ireland.

But they have been reluctant to speak about rising tensions in communities for fear that what they say could be misinterpreted or make the situation worse.

Roma community in NI 'feeling fearful'

Ms Lazar, who is based in England, said she thought more needed to be done to protect members of the Roma community and their human rights.

She added that the fear people were feeling is real.

"We're talking about vulnerable families with children," she said.

"We're talking about Christian families who attend the Romanian churches there. They've been even afraid to go to a shop to buy food, [to send] children to school. They've been scared."

She said there were some within the Roma community who commit crimes – much like in all communities – but that it was for the police to deal with those individuals.

Florin said the same.

"We should not put all Roma in the same boat," he said.

"Many have bought their house, they have a car, they have a good job."

He added that recent events had led to many leaving Northern Ireland for their safety.

"You feel like a stranger in this country," he said.

"You feel like you don't have any more courage to be here."