'Mob' protests outside home of Justice Minister Naomi Long

Naomi Long said it "isn't legitimate protest to turn up at my home, disrupt my neighbours, my family"

Northern Ireland's Justice Minister Naomi Long has said a line was crossed after a "mob" turned up at her home on Wednesday evening.

Her husband, Belfast Alliance councillor Michael Long, said "about 40 people, some wearing masks, turned up at our house to protest".

It is believed the protest related to the housing of sex offenders in residential areas.

In a social media post, Mrs Long said: "It's bullying and intimidation. It's threatening and wholly unacceptable."

The police attended the incident and said they would now review footage to "consider if any potential offences have been committed".

In addition to her role as Stormont's justice minister, Mrs Long is also the leader of the Alliance Party.

She said she was open to debating issues, but added: "Turning up as a mob, some in masks, at my home just isn't on."

Her post said: "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."

'Completely unacceptable'

Alliance Party deputy leader Eóin Tennyson said the Longs would not be "intimidated" by the mob but that they "shouldn't have to put up with it".

He told The Nolan Show that it was "completely unacceptable" and "hugely distressing".

"At the heart of this, politicians are humans too and any of us would be shaken by a mob turning up outside our home."

Tennyson added that the couple are "two of the most accessible politicians in Northern Ireland".

"They have never shied away from debate, they have never shied away from robust engagement, they have never shied away from being held to account," he said.

"But what is completely unacceptable is to seek to harass and intimate politicians in their homes, and that is exactly what happened last night."

Previous death threats

Belfast councillor Michael Long said "about 40 people, some wearing masks, turned up at our house to protest"

Writing on X, her husband said a police car "had to sit outside the house overnight in case of attack".

It is not the first time Alliance party representatives have complained of intimidation.

In 2012 the party was targeted by loyalists after it supported a move to only display the union flag at Belfast City Hall on designated days.

Ms Long received death threats and later revealed she was being treated for skin cancer at the same time.

However, Mr Long said: "In 25 years, no one has protested at our house" until the incident on Wednesday night.

'Sinister and entirely wrong'

First Minister Michelle O'Neill, from Sinn Féin, described it as "absolutely disgusting".

She added that "turning up at someone's home is intimidation, not protest. It is never acceptable."

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson said that "the private homes of elected politicians should be firmly off limits".

"Whatever the reason for political protest, what happened last night at Naomi Long's home should be roundly condemned," he added.

Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said he was "shocked and horrified" by the actions of the crowd.

"We live in a democracy. There are acceptable ways to express your opposition. Intimidation is not one of them."

Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Claire Hanna said the party sends "sincere solidarity" to the Longs after the "disgraceful scenes".

"There will always be political disagreement, particularly in a place with as fraught a history as this, but to turn up outside a politician's home and try to intimidate them is sinister and entirely wrong," she added.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn called the incident "appalling and completely unacceptable".

"Showing up outside the home of an elected representative is not protesting, it is intimidation, and it is wrong."