Naomi Long warns ‘a line was crossed’ after masked mob gathered outside her home

By Bairbre Holmes, PA

A masked mob turned up at the home of Alliance Party leader Naomi Long on Wednesday night, the MLA has said.

Posting on social media site X, the representative for East Belfast said “a line was crossed”, adding: “It isn’t engagement and it isn’t legitimate protest to turn up at my home, disrupt my neighbours, my family and place pressure on police.”

She said during her 25 years in frontline politics, she has engaged with “people from all backgrounds and perspectives”, and has been “open to debating and discussing issues, whether we agreed or not”.

She described what happened outside her house as “bullying and intimidation”.

She added: “It’s threatening and wholly unacceptable.

Over the last 25 years I've been in front-line politics, I've engaged with people from all backgrounds and perspectives. I've been open to debating and discussing issues, whether we agreed or not, including on here.

Turning up as a mob, some in masks, at my home just isn't on. >

— Naomi Long MLA (@naomi_long) October 9, 2025

“It needs to stop.”

Responding to her post, Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill described the incident as “absolutely disgusting”.

The Sinn Féin vice-president added: “Turning up at someone’s home is intimidation, not protest.

“It is never acceptable.”

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster’s Nolan Show, Alliance Party deputy leader Eoin Tennyson said the incident had been live-streamed by those involved.

What is completely unacceptable is to seek to harass and intimidate politicians in their homes, and that is exactly what happened last night

He said Mrs Long and her husband Michael, who is an Alliance councillor, have “never shied away from being held to account”.

He added: “But what is completely unacceptable is to seek to harass and intimidate politicians in their homes, and that is exactly what happened last night.”

He blamed “a toxic atmosphere” which he said has been “whipped up” online and in Northern Ireland’s Assembly chamber.

He said “much of it” has targeted Mrs Long, describing the discourse as mostly “misinformation, disinformation and a misrepresentation of Naomi’s position”.

Mr Tennyson added: “There is a difference between robust political debate and what has been, I think, a targeted and personalised attack on Naomi in particular.”

In a statement on Thursday, the PSNI said they attended a protest outside a property in east Belfast on Wednesday evening.

They said they have begun an investigation and an evidence-gathering operation is now in place.

They will review footage and “consider if any potential offences were committed”.