The family of Stephen Ogilvy has issued a heartfelt plea for calm in Belfast following a wave of racist violence that has left the city on edge. Police are bracing for further unrest after what has been described as 'sickening' disorder, despite the victim's family delivering a powerful message that such violence is not welcome.
A Call for Dignity
Stephen Ogilvy lies in a hospital bed, having lost an eye to a brutal crime. The suffering endured by him and his family is almost impossible to comprehend. Yet their response has been marked by remarkable dignity. As rioters in Belfast torched homes and smashed windows in his name, the Ogilvys delivered a message that should shame every one of them: this violence is not welcome.
They spoke of migrants who help keep our hospitals running and our economy moving. They pleaded with people not to turn their tragedy into a pretext for hatred. It came after the disorder left a two-month-old baby needing rescue, a pensioner with dementia hospitalised, and families who had lived in Belfast for decades driven from their homes. That is not justice for Stephen. It is, as the police chief said, an act of mindless self-harm.
Let the courts deal with the accused and the rioters, too. One family has shown Belfast the way forward. The city should follow their lead.
Tackling Rogue Vape Shops
Our high streets should belong to honest businesses, not criminal gangs hiding in plain sight. For too long, rogue vape shops and other sham businesses have been allowed to operate as fronts for money laundering, drug dealing and exploitation. Shabana Mahmood is right to promise tougher powers to shut them down.
Closing the loophole that allows suspect businesses to reopen while investigations drag on is long overdue. Criminal bosses should not be able to game the system. The estimated £1 billion laundered through high street premises each year shows the scale of the challenge. Stronger closure orders, backed by proper enforcement, will help protect communities and legitimate traders. Our town centres deserve better.
Let the World Cup Unite Us
The wait is over. On Thursday, the World Cup begins, and for the next month, millions of us will be captivated by the greatest show in sport. At its best, football unites us. Strangers embracing in pubs, flags in windows, children dreaming of glory. We wish England and Scotland every success. Above all, let this tournament be remembered for magic on the pitch, not ugliness off it.
