The approximately 100 Roma ethnics that left their houses following the racist attacks in Belfast have decided to leave Northern Ireland, with only 14 of them deciding to stay. Margaret Ritchie, the Minister for social development, stated that 25 people have already left and that another 75 are determined to return to Romania. ‘I am sad that they’ve decided to go home’ she stated. According to the official, only 14 Roma ethnics have decided to stay. Meanwhile, the windows and a door of the church that temporarily housed the Roma ethnics were broken, the police informed. The police officers have charged three young people – of which two teenagers – for intimidating the Romanians. Two other youngsters were arrested yesterday for provocative behavior and intimidation. ‘We are not a racist society but we have to work on respecting political, religious and ethnic differences’ Ritchie stated. Over 100 Roma ethnics were forced to leaver their homes last week because of racist attacks. They first took refuge in a church and were then housed by the authorities in a temporary shelter. Most of the Romanians expressed their desire to return home while the local population and politicians condemned the attacks.
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