In a statement on June 10, 2025, a spokesperson for Comhairle Uladh (Ulster Executive), Sinn Féin Poblachtach said: “A child’s trauma has been weaponised to demonstrate as much hatred that any human being could exhibit to another.

“This wasn’t a protest — it’s pure racism fuelled by extremists who have declared a campaign of violence against the most vulnerable in Occupied Ireland.

“In today’s world, where information is constantly being manipulated and filtered, it’s crucial for those who wish to represent the most vulnerable in our society to remain grounded in the truth. It’s easy to get swept up in narratives and opinions, but the truth stands firm, untouched by the noise around us.

“Sinn Féin Poblachtach has said that racism is the enemy of the working people, therefore, the foe of Republicanism.

“Let us not forget that a young girl – a child! – has had something utterly reprehensible done to her. However, if we examine the incident in Ballymena objectively, it appears the narrative may not be solely about protecting women. If so, you would have had whole communities of loyalists being targeted and riots breaking out when news about sexual perpetrators of violence against women like Donaldson, Tweed and Harbinson came to light. No riots. It was about power and that over others.

“Since 2020, 25 women have been killed violently in the Occupied Six Counties and 4,090 sexual offences were recorded last year. It has to be said, most of those responsible were men from here. If violence was how we responded to sexual violence, the streets would be burning every day. But they’re not. And they won’t be.

“Sinn Féin Poblachtach is clear about that this child deserves a community that protects her and not those who are going along to invade, ransack and burn other homes to cause as much fear, not only to their target, but to every other child who’s racially different or steps out of line.

“The truth’s harder to face. The real threat to women in Occupied Ireland doesn’t come from people arriving from other places. It comes from men. In this case, it’s boys. From a culture that refuses to take responsibility for its own violence.”

CRÍOCH/ENDS

Ranganna:[RSF News] Statements