Nurses from minority backgrounds forced to show ID to masked men during Belfast riots

Northern Ireland's First Minister called it "vile and disgusting" after healthcare workers reported being stopped by masked individuals. The PSNI is reviewing records from the night in question.

Belfast riots: healthcare workers targeted as First Minister demands investigation

Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill has condemned as "vile and disgusting" reports that police instructed nurses from minority backgrounds to show their ID to masked men before entering their workplace, bbc.com reports.

Violence erupted across Belfast last week, with homes, businesses and vehicles attacked and healthcare workers targeted in racist incidents. Disorder was sparked after footage of a knife attack in north Belfast on Monday night — which left the victim with serious injuries — was shared widely on social media. A man has since been charged with attempted murder.

"No nurse or person going into their workplace should have to stop at any mob and give their ID — that's absolutely disgraceful," O'Neill said, speaking at Stormont. She added that if any healthcare worker had been advised by police to show identification to masked individuals, there must be a "serious investigation".

O'Neill said she raised the matter directly with the PSNI chief constable, who initially dismissed it. "When I went back to him again he had to take on board that actually, both myself and the health minister were told this by members of staff," she said.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt told the assembly he had heard from PSNI chief constable Jon Boutcher about a nurse who had to "negotiate her own way through the rioters" at Carlisle Circus in north Belfast, close to the Mater Hospital on the Crumlin Road. "That's not right to my mind, not right at all," Nesbitt said, adding that Boutcher "took that very seriously indeed".

International healthcare workers told BBC News NI they faced intimidation during the disorder, with some fearing for their safety. "If they were not with us, our health service would collapse and people would die unnecessarily," Nesbitt said.

In a statement on Monday evening, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said officers had been "working directly" with health trusts and the independent health sector to "listen to their worries and see how we could help". He acknowledged that on the first night of disorder, police were dealing with "multiple seats of violence and protest activity across Greater Belfast and beyond".

"We did receive reports of vehicles being stopped by masked individuals in the Greater Belfast area," Henderson said. "Officers responded immediately and a significant mobile policing presence was maintained for a period of time to provide reassurance and prevent the commission of offences."

Henderson confirmed that police are "aware of reports circulating that police officers may have advised nursing staff outside the Mater Hospital to show their ID to masked men" and that they are reviewing records from Tuesday evening to establish whether any specific reports can be identified. He said he had also engaged directly with the chief executive of the Belfast Trust and senior staff at the Mater Hospital.

"No one has come to police directly at this stage and we would urge anyone who experienced this or who has information to contact us on 101," Henderson said.

DUP MLA Deborah Erskine broke down in tears in the assembly on Thursday while discussing the racial abuse suffered by minority and ethnic healthcare workers. She spoke of being cared for in hospital by international nurses and doctors after giving birth to her daughter, who has a heart defect, and said she wanted all international healthcare staff to feel valued and protected at work. While she said she understood the right to protest, violence was "wrong".

Alliance MLA and policing board member Nuala McAllister said she had spoken to police on Monday and received assurances they were taking the claims "very, very seriously". "As a policing board member, we will be able to examine this in more detail in coming weeks," she told BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme. McAllister acknowledged the police "had a tough job last week" but said it was important that the PSNI "are seen to uphold rule of law".

Many of the protests across Belfast passed peacefully, though in some areas individuals engaged in what authorities described as racist violence. A string of further racist attacks has been reported across Northern Ireland over the past week, including an assault on two homes in Belfast over the weekend.

Source: The Sun