Hours before racist violence broke out in Ballymena on Monday night, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) had warned that the north Antrim town was on a knife-edge over immigration.

In a statement to the Assembly, North Antrim DUP representative Paul Frew reminded members he had told them weeks ago people in his constituency were “living in fear”. There had since been two serious sexual assaults on teenage girls, sending “shock waves through Ballymena and further afield”, he said, yet there was no sign of immigration-related problems being addressed by police, councils, Stormont or Westminster.

On the same day in Stormont, other DUP members made statements about immigration in general and its impact in their areas. The party has clearly decided to adopt a more hardline stance on the issue, with what now looks like appalling timing. On Tuesday, 17

© The Irish Times