Northern Health and Social Care Trust staff have helped international colleagues, whose Antrim homes were targeted in racist attacks, move to safe temporary accommodation.
In the past week, eight African families have been forced to leave the town’s Ballycraigy estate, after their homes were singled out by spray painted graffiti and racist material was taped to their windows.
The windows of cars belonging to some of the families were also smashed.
Members of four of the eight families are nurses employed by the trust.
Trust chief executive, Jennifer Walsh, described the attacks as “deeply distressing” and “totally unacceptable”.
She said: “Attacks of this nature are never acceptable, but it is particularly upsetting to think that anyone would target members of our health service.
“To be targeted while in their own home is deeply distressing, and sadly there have been a number of recent incidents where members of staff have been subjected to racial abuse and felt threatened. This is totally unacceptable.
“We are very proud of our diverse workforce here in the Northern Trust. We depend on our international staff, all of whom are dedicated members of our team and play a vital role in delivering health and social care in our community. I know that the vast majority of people are supportive of our staff,” she told The Irish News.
“I want to send a strong message that our entire workforce has my support and the support of our community. We are wrapping around these nurses and offering our support at this time.”
South Antrim MP and former health minister Robin Swann said the attacks must be “completely condemned right across the political spectrum, so that we don’t turn off those people we need to support our health service”.
He added: “I want to make sure that the community we have is welcoming to all our health-care workers because we need them across our health service.”
Swastikas and neo-Nazi group Combat 18 graffiti also appeared at five locations across Antrim town this week.
On Tuesday, police arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of intimidation and criminal damage, relating to incidents within the Redford Grove and Ballycraigy area. He was released on bail pending further enquiries.
Sinn Féin South Antrim MLA Declan Kearney has called for “robust police action to eradicate the influence of a self-styled paramilitary criminal gang responsible for the campaign of racist and sectarian intimidation” in the town.
“The deliberate targeting of homes and property belonging to ethnic minority families, resulting in some having to leave the area is indefensible,” he said.
“A small gang of paramilitary criminals is trying to control and coerce the greater Ballycraigy neighbourhood, attempting to increase fear and destroy good community and multi-cultural relations. We must collectively ensure they do not succeed.”
