Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PSNI probe city centre race rant at children
Sick tirade is filmed by witness
AN investigation has been launched after a woman was filmed shouting racist abuse at schoolgirls.
The incident is said to have happened in Belfast city centre at 9pm on Saturday. Footage believed to have been taken by one of the victims has been shared on social media. In the video, the woman can be heard shouting at the young schoolgirls who are sitting on a bench near the City Hall. She can be heard saying: “See yous, give about five/10 f ***** g months you’ll be out of here. “I’m the only f ***** g person that stands up for it. People like you walking into our f ***** g country, ours, protestant f ***** g country.” A man across the street appears to tell her to stop what she is doing, to which she replies: “It’s true.” In a second video, the woman continues her tirade about the young girls, appearing to respond to someone else who isn’t in the camera shot. She can be heard saying: “I’m a f ***** g prod and I’ve been homeless for the past three f ***** g years, where they walk into the country and get f ***** g everything – work that one out.” As the woman appears to walk away, one of the girls on the bench can be heard saying: “First of all, we were born here.” She replies: “Wha [sic], you were born here?”, before the video ends. Grainne Mckinney, who brought the video to light on social media, called the police and waited with the girls until the woman left. She said she could not believe it was happening in broad daylight and felt she had to do something as no one else was. A 14-year-old girl who says she was the victim of the woman’s tirade has urged people to share the footage and a message from her on social media. She added: “Please let people see this. “It happens every day and no one does anything about it. We’re just school kids sitting in town, didn’t even expect this to ever happen.” Sgt Nicola Mchenry said: “We received reports yesterday evening that a blonde-haired female was shouting racial abuse at three other females who were sitting on a bench in the Donegall Square West area of the city. “Police responded to the incident but were unable to locate the female who is described as being in her late teens or 20s and at the time was wearing a spotty raincoat and black leggings. “If anyone has any further information about this incident they should contact police on the non-emergency number 101. “Alternatively, if someone would prefer to provide information without giving their details they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”