Peaceful Ballymena protest praised by TUV amid immigration tensions

TUV Ballymena councillor Matthew Armstrong

A peaceful protest in Ballymena over immigration and border concerns has been praised by TUV representatives, who claimed hundreds of people gathered at the Seven Towers Roundabout without violence following days of heightened tension across Northern Ireland.

The statement from TUV Ballymena councillor Matthew Armstrong comes after widespread condemnation of disorder and violence linked to protests elsewhere, including ongoing fallout from the attempted murder investigation in north Belfast involving a Sudanese man who police say travelled to Northern Ireland via Dublin.

Armstrong argued that peaceful demonstrations were being overlooked while public debate remained focused on scenes of unrest and disorder.

TUV says peaceful voices are being ignored

In a strongly-worded statement, Councillor Armstrong said many people had turned out peacefully to express concerns around immigration, border controls, and cultural change.

He said:

“While there have been many voices of condemnation for protests which turned violent last night, the many which did not have been ignored.

“I believe that those loudest in their condemnation of the violence in other places but who refuse to face up to the issues so obviously highlighted by the events of Monday night positively welcome the opportunity to talk about trouble.

“They don’t want to talk about the open border which allowed the man now charged with attempted murder to come up on a bus from Dublin because they positively advocated for that madness.”

The TUV councillor said political and media attention was failing to address wider public concerns around immigration policy.

“They claim that now is not the time to discuss immigration. Yet the day to discuss it never comes,” he added.

Hundreds gathered at Seven Towers Roundabout

Armstrong said the Ballymena demonstration remained peaceful throughout and involved local elected representatives standing alongside protesters.

“But I want to welcome the fact that last night hundreds of people came out at the Seven Towers Roundabout to peacefully demand an end to open borders and an end to the importation of an alien culture into Northern Ireland.

“Councillor Christopher Jamieson, Alderman Stewart McDonald and I were proud to stand with our community as they demonstrated peacefully.”

The comments come at a time of growing political tension around immigration and border enforcement in Northern Ireland, particularly following recent statements from TUV leader Jim Allister MP linking the north Belfast attempted murder investigation to concerns over the movement of migrants across the Irish border.

Police have confirmed the suspect in custody in that investigation is Sudanese and not Somali, as initially believed online.

Media criticism and wider tensions

Armstrong also criticised media coverage of recent events, arguing peaceful demonstrations were receiving less attention than violent incidents.

“Unless major protests of this nature are given the attention by the media they deserve, we run the risk of sending a message that violence is the only way society will listen.

“Media outlets need to reflect on that.”

While violence connected to some demonstrations has drawn condemnation from across the political spectrum, the Ballymena gathering highlighted the increasingly sharp divide between those warning against unrest and those arguing public concerns around immigration are not being properly addressed.