Northern Ireland Communities Minister Lyons Refuses Resignation Amid Larne Leisure Centre Attack Backlash

Northern Ireland's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has faced widespread criticism and calls to resign following a social media post he made hours before Larne Leisure Centre was attacked and set on fire by masked youths. Lyons posted that the centre had been used to temporarily house migrant families displaced by violence in Ballymena, a detail some politicians and community members deemed reckless and potentially inflammatory amidst ongoing unrest targeting ethnic minorities. Despite calls from First Minister Michelle O’Neill and others for his resignation, Lyons has refused to step down, asserting that his information was already public and confirmed by local authorities. The attack on the leisure centre occurred during a third night of violence in Northern Ireland, characterized by racist thuggery and targeting of ethnic minorities. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn and other political figures urged Lyons to reflect on his comments, emphasizing the need for unity and caution in such a volatile situation. Lyons and his party leader Gavin Robinson maintain that the post was intended to defuse tensions and have dismissed resignation demands as political point-scoring.