Belfast Riots: How Do People Become Radicalised?

The Pat Kenny Show examines the explosive rise of far-right mobilization following a stabbing in Belfast, probing how a culture of normalized violence in loyalist communities has evolved into organized, socially amplified unrest. Gemma McSherry, a Northern Ireland-born writer and former Amnesty and Guardian contributor, reveals that for generations, violence has been a rite of passage in certain areas—taught through murals, bonfires, and paramilitary presence—where young men are groomed to feel powerful through dominance and aggression. She argues that while local deprivation and sectarian history are foundational, the real escalation lies in social media’s role: bot networks spreading misinformation, and online platforms teaching activists how to organize, evade surveillance, and maintain anonymity. What’s alarming, she notes, is the 'loyalisation' of broader Ireland and the UK—where far-right ideologies are now being adopted across communities, not just loyalist ones. Despite politicians’ post-riot condemnations, McSherry warns that systemic neglect, funding cuts to peacebuilding programs, and the deliberate cultivation of grievance narratives by hardline unionist leaders have entrenched the cycle. Yet she points to historical hope: the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition, which helped shape the Good Friday Agreement by centering women and children, proving that community-led, cross-community intervention can break the pattern of generational hate.