And----this means that they are,in the eyes of British Law,members of an "Ethnic group with a language and a culture of their own",which means that the police cannot and will not arrest them,no matter what they do,for fear of breaching their "Human Rights".This status gives them automatic access to free medical care,housing,welfare payments,child benefits,you name it,they can have it,and without making any sort of financial contribution to the "system",added to which they can (and do) keep their children off school,drive vehicles without tax or insurance,and generally behave more or less as they wish,without fear of let or hindrance.
            This,it may surprise some of you,can lead to ill-will and resentment on the part of the populace of the host country.It is NOT,per se,racism,but frustration and ,well, jealousy, if you must know----why should the rest of us have to obey the rules when they don't ??? Of course,nobody of a civilised disposition would condone the behaviour of the "mob" in Northern Ireland in this instance,but why oh why are these Minority Groups perceived as being so much better than us "ordinary" folks ??