Up to 90 per cent of asylum seekers in the Republic of Ireland may have entered via the land border with Northern Ireland over the past three years, Irish government data indicates. The UK Home Office disclosed that in the past year it had apprehended more than 900 immigration offenders abusing the open border.

Scrutiny of the Common Travel Area intensified after a knife attack in Belfast on Monday. A 30-year-old Sudanese refugee, Hadi Alodid, was charged with attempted murder. He had travelled from Sudan to Paris to Dublin and then took a bus to Belfast, where he claimed asylum in 2023. Two nights of violence followed the attack.

Police reinforcements were sent from Great Britain on Thursday. On Friday, a police bulldozer cleared debris from the rioting on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. More than 100 people attended a protest in Whiteabbey, and a small group blocked a road in east Belfast. Police reported a notable reduction in violence on Thursday night.

TUV leader Jim Allister said there is a problem with unlicensed houses in multiple occupation in Ballymena, with more such properties than licences issued. He claimed a lack of oversight and said the UK should conduct spot checks near the border similar to those carried out by Irish authorities. Mr Allister stated that Dublin has been facilitating the movement of migrants into Northern Ireland and that the UK Government avoids border checks out of fear of damaging relations with the EU and the Irish Government.

DUP MP Sammy Wilson said Northern Ireland is not a racist country, though small elements exist. He argued that the Government refuses to enforce the border because of a commitment to avoiding a hard border with the Republic and a desire not to annoy the EU.

The Irish Government expressed deep concern over the violence and said it was working closely with the UK on abuses of the Common Travel Area. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn spoke to Irish ministers, and discussions involving Stormont counterparts emphasised cross-border cooperation. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said questions must be asked about immigration policy across both islands and about checks conducted in Dublin. DUP leader Gavin Robinson called for the border to be closed.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the Common Travel Area is positive but must be managed as people seek to abuse it. A post-Brexit returns agreement is expected to be revived; so far only one asylum seeker has been returned to Ireland from the UK under the deal.