Tougher consequences needed for teens involved in crime, says Tanaiste, as India Day postponed due to ‘spate of attacks'

Irish Independent

10 hours ago

Mr Harris was speaking after his meeting with representatives from the Indian community this afternoon, which took place after a spate of violent attacks on a number of those from the community.
The current laws around racism and assault were clear and needed to be enforced, Mr Harris said.
However, when asked if there could be tougher consequences of teenage gangs who carry out attacks like this, Mr Harris said he believed it could be possible and thought it was 'required'.
'I trust the Gardaí will [enforce current laws], will apply the appropriate level of attention and resource, because this is serious,' Mr Harris said.
'I think we have to have a legitimate question as to, are there further sanctions that are required, particularly when you're seeing attacks being carried out by, really children, children or young teenagers.
'Where's our system in relation to that? And do we need to look again at some of our laws?' he added.
Mr Harris also criticised social media platforms and said more work needed to be done on mandatory age verification.
He added that 'social media can't be the Wild West', that children were now being exposed to disinformation and that algorithms were deciding what children saw and how often they saw it.
'The democratically elected governments of a country [are] deciding a digital age, and the social media companies kind of saying, 'ah, sure, what about you?' I mean, that's not acceptable,' Mr Harris said.
He added that social media was amplifying hatred and racism.
'Some of these phenomenons, like racism, hatred, they're not new. They existed long before social media. I'm not suggesting they're caused by social media,' Mr Harris said.
'But I'm absolutely suggesting and saying categorically without fear of doubt, is that social media is amplifying it and convincing young people that wrongful niche views of hatred are somehow or other, some sort of acceptable societal norm,' he added.
Mr Harris described the recent spate of attacks on the Indian community as 'despicable' and needed to be 'called out and condemned by all'.
"The Indian community have made and continue to make a very positive contribution to Irish society. I said yesterday, our health service would fall over without them, and that's true, but so too would many other parts of our public services and parts of our economy,' Mr Harris said
His comments come after confirmation that India Day in Ireland has been postponed following a 'spate of violent attacks' on members of its community in recent months.
The co-chairman of the Ireland India Council, Prashant Shukla, said making the decision was 'very difficult' and 'emotional', but that the safety and security of the community was more important.
He said the event has been held in Ireland since 2015 and this had never happened before.
Co-Chair of the Ireland India Council, Prashant Shukla (Niall Carson/PA)
Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th August 2025
Hundreds of performers had been preparing for the event at Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park on Sunday.
'We are not too much concerned about the safety at the event, we are more concerned about the perception on social media,' he said adding that they had created a perception that Indians had 'taken over the state' and had caused housing problems.
'So we want to actually balance these counter narratives, they are very very negative.
'We will review the situation and we will announce new dates for India Day this year.'
He added: 'It is time to call out those who peddle racial hatred.'
The announcement was made after representatives of the Indian community met with Tanaiste Simon Harris at Government Buildings on Monday.
Attacks against members of the Indian community in Ireland have been highlighted in recent weeks after an Indian man was the victim of an unprovoked attack in Tallaght, Dublin, last month.
Archbishop Dermot Farrell said the rcent attacks on members of the Indian community in Dublin have been 'truly shocking'.
"These unprovoked attacks on people, including a child, who were apparently targeted solely because of their ethnic identity, have generated understandable fear and alarm among the Indian community,' he said.
'The truth is that the Indian community in Dublin comprises many people who have come to Dublin to make an important and valued contribution to our society. We are all familiar with the vital presence of Indian professionals in our healthcare system, without whom many healthcare needs simply could not be met. Others apply their skills in other important sectors of the economy and also contribute to funding public services through their taxes.
A silent vigil was held outside the Department of Justice by Friends Of India in response.
The Indian embassy in Dublin has also issued a warning that there has been 'an increase in the instances of physical attacks reported against Indian citizens in Ireland recently'.
They said Indian citizens in Ireland should take 'reasonable' precautions and avoid deserted areas.
Mr Harris has said he was 'deeply concerned' about the incidents and that one of the most concerning things was the 'very young age of those that have been involved in some of this racist activity'.
The Ireland India Council said it wanted assaults on members of the Indian community to be recognised and recorded as hate crimes, to ensure the offences are 'appropriately recorded and addressed'.
It has called for a cross-departmental taskforce on hate crime and youth violence and 'legislative reform' to hold parents more accountable for the actions of their children.
It also called for enhanced policing, swift prosecution of offenders, and an outreach programme to affected communities.
On Sunday, Minister of State with responsibility for migration Colm Brophy said he wanted the incoming Garda commissioner Justin Kelly to prioritise addressing these incidents.
'We actually have seen a drop in serious crime, but in this particular area, we have seen a rise in the type of attacks,' he told RTE Radio.
'I think there needs to be a stronger policing response in this area because there's two aspects to these attacks which I think are very very unacceptable.
'The first is obviously the attack itself, and the second then is the recording and videoing of it and the disseminating of it on social media and there's a role that has to be dealt with there as well.'
The Indian embassy has been contacted for comment.