Northern Ireland: Refugee family moved 60 miles to Portrush

On Thursday morning, freelance filmmaker Gillian Callan asked to film at the hotel where Moheand and his family were staying, for a community documentary-making project.

She says she was told she could not film on the premises, which she claims she adhered to.

But three hours later, the family received a phone call telling them they had to move out.

Ms Callan said she worried it was linked to her request to film.

“I felt sick, to be quite honest, when I realised that this was happening, and quite desperate for it to stop,” she said.

“If there’s another issue I’m unaware of it, which leads me to think that it’s because I asked to film.

“The children are already telling me they could be late for school and they don’t want to be late for school, and it breaks my heart for them that they’ve ended up in this scenario.”

Gesturing to the snow on the ground around her, she said: “I think it’s scandalous on a day like today to ask the family to leave.”

Moheand, who had never driven in snow before this, said he would do so “because of my kids”.

Riyad said he was “just going to try and see if [Portrush] is good”.