The Roma people in Belfast

[Northern Voice]

I don't really have an issue with them selling the big issue.
I do however, have an issue with them begging with young children on their knees which seems to go on incessantly from morning till night and regardless of weather conditions.
Having a young child perched on ones knee in the freezing cold from 10(ish) in the AM until at least 6pm to help boost your begging donations is beyond cruel. I don't care who they are or where they come from. That is just wrong.

Not sure if I can vouch for your point about weather conditions. In my experience of being in Belfast regularly, a lot of Big Issue sellers tend to disappear if the weather isn't up to scratch. If they were truly impoverished, they would be begging in all weather conditions I would have thought.

[picador]

The Big Issue was set up wih noble intent - to provide a means of income for the homeless. It seems the 'big issue' has changed - to gypsies.

[oboe]

I'm not sure exactly where you're talking about.

You said 'Newtownards Road', then 'Newtownards' and now 'The Village'.

Why not find a link in future so you don't post inaccurate information?

Apologies,
Roma were intimidated from the Newtownards Road on the date provided.
This was also the same month they were subject to harrassment and intimidation in the Loyalist Village area of South Belfast.

Perhaps you were out of the country at the time. I was here and I remember it clearly.

[Ricky McCall]

Apologies,
Roma were intimidated from the Newtownards Road on the date provided.
This was also the same month they were subject to harrassment and intimidation in the Loyalist Village area of South Belfast.

Perhaps you were out of the country at the time. I was here and I remember it clearly.

I clearly remember the Village incident and the follow up attacks by GAA members in the Holylands.

Absolutely no memory of anything going on on the Newtownards Road though so post that link when you can petal. Cheers.

[bettybotox]

I don't see anyone there rioting or causing trouble

The only people assaulting anyone are the PSNI

Why do you think the PSNI are there in the first place?

[bettybotox]

Not sure if I can vouch for your point about weather conditions. In my experience of being in Belfast regularly, a lot of Big Issue sellers tend to disappear if the weather isn't up to scratch. If they were truly impoverished, they would be begging in all weather conditions I would have thought.

I wasn't talking about people selling the big issue. I was referring to roma ladies sitting on street corners with a young child perched on their knee, cap in hand regardless of weather and for many, many hours. It's one of my pet hates. Sorry, I should have clarified it better. My bad.

[bettybotox]

An interesting article:

Whose Really To Blame For What Happened To Romanians In Belfast?

[damon]

it probably depends on what you mean by stable but it would be very hard for them to break the cycle of hand outs and begging because most people across the world think they are scum and will resist their integration.

would you give them a job?

Someone told me today that they pay their own rent on the houses they live in in the Holylands. And that they get no benifits (as people from Romania and Bulgaria are not entitled to have benifits or to work).

I'm pretty sure their family structure is quite hierarchical and many of them are being exploited by their own family groups. I spoke briefly to two Roma women today, as they are permanent fixtures outside shops I went into. One of them knows me personally as I have talked to her in a friendly way several times.

I haven't seen them on Cregagh road, and have the idea that while they might be OK at some Mace shops, they might get told to p*** off at others.



They even get out to the Rosetta and Four Winds Mace shops. Where I would say that a majority of the people going in and out of those local shops don't really like.

Apart from the selling of the Belfast Telegraph, the only other 'regular' work I've known them to have is at the several car wash places that spring up and then close down here and there.

In the future when they can legally work, I'm guesing that taxi driving might be a legitimate line of work they could move into.

I would really like to hear any positive stories about the Roma in Ireland. How their children are striding ahead in school and talking like locals - like happens where I come from with most of the youngsters from minority backgrounds, even when they couldn't speak English when they started primary school.

The Roma from the earlier to join the EU countries (Czech Republic etc) have had full rights here, so I would be interested to know of integration, and Roma people working and paying taxes like all the other Eastern European people have done in the UK and the Republic for several years.

[Northtipp]

I clearly remember the Village incident and the follow up attacks by GAA members in the Holylands.

Absolutely no memory of anything going on on the Newtownards Road though so post that link when you can petal. Cheers.

I'm not saying I'm doubting you Ricky but can we have the link for the attack by gaa members. Previously you suggested that anyone saying such things should support with a link. Again I'm not doubting you. I. Just look forward to seeing it

[oboe]

I clearly remember the Village incident and the follow up attacks by GAA members in the Holylands.

Absolutely no memory of anything going on on the Newtownards Road though so post that link when you can petal. Cheers.

Sadly for me you'll be waiting a while on that link.
I've given you the date and the source. Try using some initiative.

Linking the GAA through juxtaposition with Loyalist attacks on the Roma is a remarkable feat of imagination.