A man has been charged with attempted murder and making a threat to kill following disorder on the streets of Belfast last week. Hadi Alodid, a migrant, arrived in the city on a bus from Dublin prior to the disturbances.

Violent scenes erupted in several parts of the city, leading to suggestions that paramilitary groups were involved. Sources within those groups have denied orchestrating the trouble, though a culture of disorder remains entrenched in some areas.

Sinn Féin politicians accused loyalist elements of responsibility, as the violence occurred mainly in loyalist areas. The largest party at Stormont is inextricably linked to the IRA.

The violence has prompted debate about immigration and border arrangements. The Irish government has stepped up checks on cross-border journeys and drafted legislation to restrict abuse of the Common Travel Area. Taoiseach Micheál Martin acknowledged that an earlier claim that 80 per cent of asylum seekers were entering the Republic via Northern Ireland was not based on an evidence base.

Under an inter-governmental deal, the Republic has returned dozens of illegal migrants to the UK. By contrast, the UK has reportedly sent back only one asylum seeker to the Republic. A political editor noted that checks on the Irish border effectively happen only in one direction.

At Stormont, Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister told a national television broadcaster that the recent trouble was not triggered by immigration. Other politicians have been criticised for failing to facilitate a realistic debate on the pressures that an influx of people might place on housing and services.