Timothy Gaston MLA urges Assembly to tackle Ballymena community concerns head-on

TUV MLA Timothy Gaston has spoken out forcefully in the Northern Ireland Assembly today, Tuesday 10 June, following a protest in Ballymena on Monday night, where thousands gathered in solidarity with the victim of a serious sexual assault.

Addressing a “matter of the day” in the Assembly chamber on Tuesday morning, Gaston highlighted the local community’s anger and heartbreak over the incident, while expressing regret over violence caused by “a few individuals” whom he said were largely from outside the area.

“Last night, I attended a peaceful demonstration in support of a young girl who was the victim of a serious sexual assault,” said Gaston.

“My party has been in contact with the family, and we were acutely aware of their concern in advance of the protest that violence must not overshadow the legitimate outrage and heartbreak that the local community feels.”

Gaston stated that the protest, which saw women and children among those taking part, was marred by disturbances caused by individuals he said were not representative of Ballymena’s community.

He insisted that while condemning racism and violence, political leaders must also be willing to confront the underlying issues that have led to increased tensions.

“Some in the House may not want to hear it, but you cannot say that you have not been warned: there is deep concern in parts of Ballymena about the significant demographic change in recent years, particularly due to the resettlement of Roma families, with their often having arrived in large numbers from the Republic of Ireland,” he said.

“Those changes have created tensions that have not been acknowledged, addressed or discussed. Those tensions have often been ridiculed in the House. They have been allowed to fester.”

Gaston argued that the Assembly’s failure to engage openly with these developments had contributed to a sense of frustration and neglect among working-class communities across Northern Ireland.

He pointed to the recent Budget debate, highlighting the allocation of nearly £5.5 million to immigration-related issues without accompanying legislation.

“It is running away from the very issues that are being talked about in every working-class street and housing estate in the Province,” he told fellow MLAs. “That is not just procedurally wrong; it is a dereliction of duty. It is political cowardice.”

“It fails the Protestant and Catholic working-class communities who live beside the hostels and who send their children to the same schools and wait in the same hospital queues. They were never asked whether they wanted the changes. They were never consulted. They were simply told that it was happening.”

Calling for a more honest and inclusive debate, Gaston urged the Assembly to represent the real concerns of constituents rather than shy away from politically sensitive issues.

“The House must decide whether it will keep running from those conversations or finally have the courage to speak for the people whom it is meant to represent.”

His remarks are likely to spark further discussion across the political spectrum, as questions of social cohesion, integration, and transparency in decision-making continue to shape Northern Ireland’s political landscape.