Politics

Brexit: ‘What is going to happen to the future of Northern Ireland?’

Voters on the streets of Belfast respond after Britain votes to leave the EU

Almost 56 per cent of people in Northern Ireland voted to remain in the European Union. Photograph: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg
Almost 56 per cent of people in Northern Ireland voted to remain in the European Union. Photograph: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg
Amanda Ferguson in Belfast
Fri Jun 24 2016 - 15:53

There was some uncertainty among voters on the streets of Belfast city centre about what the future holds after the EU referendum result. Almost 56 per cent of people in Northern Ireland voted to remain.

Among those who voted to remain were consultant Catherine McConville. “It will be interesting to see what happens . . . it is a big risk,” she said.

“They are finding out today that a number of the fact stated previously aren’t true at all.

“It could be [Donald] Trump and Boris [Johnson] by the end of the year and that sounds horrific.”

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Outside the cobbles at city hall a taxi driver from north Belfast, who voted remain, said he was very disappointed.

“There is a lot of uncertainty of that there is no doubt.

“The thing I want to know is what is going to happen to the future of Northern Ireland and the Scottish people?

“We had a referendum here where the vast majority of people wanted to stay in and the vote went against them so in other words they are entitled to a bigger referendum regarding the Border.”

Helen McDonagh voted to remain and is concerned about what the future holds. “I voted to stay but it’s all the one to us, it’s the government that gets everything,” she said. “Normal people never get nothing.

“There will be the Free State Border now . . . It will be damaging.”

Full-time mother Sarah Stuart (30) voted to leave as she was influenced by what she perceives as the persecution of Christians and the focus on only certain people’s human rights in the legal system.

“There seems to be one rule for one and one for the other,” she said.

“Look at the Ashers’ [gay cake] case.

“You have people targeting Christian bakeries asking them to bake a cake supporting a cause you don’t support.”

She added: “The British should have more of a say in their own dealings and be able to voice their opinions.”

Trainee teacher Rob Moffett (21) voted remain and says it is “difficult to know what is going to happen” .

“I am not disappointed but a bit worried about seeing what the changes will be.

“I wasn’t really sure about why we needed to leave so we will see what the changes are and just have to deal with them.”