Romanians attacked in Belfast leave Northern Ireland; Church that offered shelter attacked

The windows of City Church in University Street, south Belfast, were smashed overnight by people throwing stones.

Pastor Malcolm Morgan, the minister who arrived Tuesday at his City Church to find its windows shattered, said he was pleased to have offered Christian aid - and would do again, as often as necessary, regardless of the damage his church suffered.

"I was just thrilled that we, as a church, were able to respond last week, and we would do the same tomorrow," he said.

The Romanians - 115 people, including 49 children - spent the night in the church hall before being found temporary accommodation in student homes left empty for the summer holidays. They fled their homes after a series of racist attacks and have since decided to leave Northern Ireland and return home.

The Northern Ireland power-sharing executive has confirmed that it will pay the travel costs for a hundred Romanians who wish to return home.

Margaret Ritchie, the Social Development Minister said 25 people had already left and a further 75 were going to leave as soon as they could. She said just 14 people had decided to stay in the country. 

Three Protestant teens and men have been charged with intimidating Romanians from their homes, and police were questioning two more youths aged 15 and 16 on suspicion of involvement.