Following an alleged assault by Roma migrants, thousands protested mass migration in Dublin Sunday. Weeks prior, 2,500 locals marched peacefully in Ballymena, but masked youths later attacked properties believed to belong to the accused.

Roma community members are reportedly accused of establishing illegal operations, including brothels, in Ballymena’s town centre. The alleged assault sparked anger, leading to retaliatory attacks on Roma homes, with reports of arson, clashes, and police crackdowns.

Northern Irish authorities brand the unrest “racist thuggery,” but residents cite surging, unacknowledged immigration (legal and illegal) as overwhelming communities and igniting tensions.

Police initially stood back, intervening only when riot police arrived. BBC reported 32 officers injured in protests, dispersed by water cannons.

Riots Erupt in Northern Ireland After Migrant Assault on Teen Girl 🇮🇪

Outraged residents torch homes and clash with police after Roma migrants are accused of raping a teenage girl — but authorities and media blame the violence on “racism.” Rebel News is on the ground to bring… pic.twitter.com/BTSndSJfG4

— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) June 20, 2025

Local MPs acknowledged immigration frustration, akin to 1980s conflicts, intensifying deportation efforts this year.

Rebel News spoke with Bangor locals, finding opinions divided: some called the demonstrators racist, others patriotic.

According to the Irish Sun, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Georgia are the top five countries of origin for asylum seekers in Ireland. The country received nearly 18,500 asylum applications last year. 

🚨 Northern Ireland protests against mass migration and alleged sexual assault spread to Bangor

Rebel News' @lincolnmjay and @realmonsanto spoke with locals in Bangor on both sides, those in support of the demonstration and those opposed.

Some call them racist; others call them… pic.twitter.com/kS5Bjx6Ij1

— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) June 21, 2025

Ireland saw 3,021 international protection applications in the first quarter of this year, a decrease from 5,162 during the same timeframe in the previous year.

Of late, deportation orders have surged under Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan's stricter approach to illegal immigration, nearly tripling in the first quarter, with 1,202 orders issued compared to the same period last year.

On June 7, thousands of concerned Irish flocked Cork to protest mass immigration. Similar demonstrations took place in Dublin weeks ago, drawing crowds in the tens of thousands.

I’m in Dublin, Ireland, covering a massive anti-immigration protest. People from all walks of life have gathered to oppose mass migration. pic.twitter.com/xVbL8KkuRv

— Lincoln Jay (@lincolnmjay) June 22, 2025

Thousands upon thousands of Irish citizens have taken to the streets to protest against mass migration. pic.twitter.com/fDJ2ZDfQAN

— Lincoln Jay (@lincolnmjay) June 22, 2025

NOW: The Irish people here in Dublin begin their march against mass immigration. Full report coming soon at @RebelNewsOnline pic.twitter.com/IQfIkbYq22

— Efrain Flores Monsanto 🇨🇦🚛 (@realmonsanto) June 22, 2025

Please support our independent journalism on Ireland's migrant crisis!

We’ve sent Rebel News reporters Lincoln Jay and Efrain Monsanto from Toronto to Ireland and Northern Ireland to cover a wave of anti-mass migration protests that the mainstream media ignores or vilifies. Over four days, they’ll be reporting from two nighttime demonstrations in Belfast and Ballymena, and covering Sunday’s massive protest expected to draw tens of thousands to the streets of Dublin. Flights, rental cars, hotels, and production costs add up quickly — and we rely entirely on our viewers to make this kind of honest journalism possible. If you support independent reporting that tells the other side of the story, please chip in a donation now.

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