Indian community celebrates independence day in Dublin
Hundreds of people have participated in an event marking India Day in Dublin, as gardai and the Government sought to assure the community it was taking action against racially motivated crime.
The free event at Merrion Square came despite a separate celebration being called off following concern over recent attacks on the Indian community.
Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has expressed concern over 'totally unacceptable' attacks on the Indian community, adding that the majority appear to have been carried out by young people.
Mr O'Callaghan said he engaged extensively with the Garda commissioner on the matter, and senior investigating officers had been assigned to investigate all reported incidents.
Event organizer Sanjeeb Barik with a statue of the Indian deity Jagannath as people attend the India Day Festival at Merrion Square Park, Dublin (Niall Carson/PA)
Sunday's celebration, organised for India's 79th independence day, featured music, dance, food stalls, exhibition stands and a range of cultural activities.
Sanjeeb Barik, the secretary of organising group the Federation of Indian Communities in Ireland, said the event had gone well amid 'fantastic and beautiful weather'.
'Lots of people are here, there's food and dancing and lots of fun.'
Asked about the engagement with Government and gardai, Mr Barik said the event had received 'good support'.
Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: 'Naturally, because there has been so many incidents there was some concern.
'We have been actively discussing with ministers, junior ministers and the Minister of Justice and they have all assured us that appropriate safety measures would be in place – and they are.
'We're working very closely to make sure everyone would be safe and, importantly, that it would be enjoyable for everyone.'
Mr Barik said they wanted to go ahead with the celebrations to send a message about the importance of standing together.
'It has been a challenging time but the main thing is to come together as a community and celebrate our heritage
'There are people from all backgrounds here – Indian, Irish and others – from all over the the island.
'It is about the strength of bonding and sowing the richness of India and Ireland's multicultural spirit.'
From left, Areet Kaur Chandi, seven, Japleen Kaur, 10, and Preety Singh, eight, join the festivities for India Day in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA)
He added: 'We are saying come together, stand together. Celebrate unity and diversity – and I hope that will continue.'
Inspector Ciaran Nunan from the Garda diversity unit said hate crimes are attacks on the whole community.
'The mission statement of An Garda Siochana is keeping people safe, and this refers to individuals, families, communities and society as a whole.
'It also now includes hate crime. Hate crime is not just an attack on a person, it's an attack on the community.
'An Garda Siochana is very aware of the impact that hate crime has upon individuals and communities, and we take it very, very seriously.
'Since our last India Day celebration last year, we now have hate crime legislation in force and we're applying that legislation at every opportunity – but we need people to report incidents of hate crime to us so that we can then take them on board and react to those.'
Entertainment was part of the festivities in Merrion Square Park (Niall Carson/PA)
He added: 'So I would encourage everybody or anybody that perceives to be a victim of a hate crime to please report it to An Garda Siochana, and allow us to continue what we're doing and work with our communities to keep people safe. 'The Dublin event was attended by Akhilesh Mishra, ambassador of India to Ireland, and Minister of State Emer Higgins.
The Ireland India Council, a separate group, said there had been an organised social media campaign against the Indian community in the country and the number of violent attacks has intensified since January.
Last week, it said it took the 'difficult' decision to postpone its planned event at Farmleigh House over concerns for the safety of the community.
People celebrating at the India Day Festival at Merrion Square Park, Dublin. Photo: Niall Carson/PA
Today's News in 90 Seconds - 17 August
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
US envoy calls on Israel to honour Lebanon ceasefire agreement ahead of crucial peacekeeper vote
AS THE VOTE to renew the UN mandate for the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon looms next week a senior US envoy has said it is time for Israel to honour its ceasefire commitments. US envoy Tom Barrack called on Israel to meet its agreement that ended its war with Hezbollah, after the Lebanese government launched a process to disarm the militant group. Under the November truce agreement, weapons in Lebanon were to be restricted to the sovereign state and Israel was to fully withdraw its troops from the country, although it has kept forces at five border points it deems strategic. Hezbollah is a militant group generally based in the south of the country and in the Becca Valley to the north as well as small pockets of Beirut. The agreement would mean that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) would disarm the powerful Hezbollah and other groups such as Amal. There are more than 330 Irish troops in south Lebanon as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The renewal of the UNIFIL mandate is due on 31 August and a vote will likely take place in the United States Security Council on 25 August in New York. Sources both here and abroad have said that the vote depends on US approval – as reported by The Journal the Trump Regime has sent an envoy to Lebanon and Israel . Israel is driving for the US to withdraw its support and veto the UNSC resolution while French diplomats particularly, along with Ireland and other nations, are campaigning for the mandate to remain. The US envoy Tom Barrack met with the Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to discuss the vote this morning. 'I think the Lebanese government has done their part. They've taken the first step. Now what we need is Israel to comply,' he said. Asked by reporters about whether he expected to see Israel fully withdraw from Lebanese territory, Barrack said that 'that's exactly the next step' needed. To the US diplomat, 'the next step is we need participation on the part of Israel, and we need an economic plan for prosperity, restoration and renovation' in Lebanon, weighed down by dire political and economic crises in recent years. Advertisement Barrack said Washington was 'in the process of now discussing with Israel what their position is', adding that 'in the next few weeks you're going to see progress on all sides.' 'It means a better life for the people… and at least the beginning of a roadway to a different kind of dialogue' in the region, he said. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, right, meets U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, third left, U.S. deputy special presidential envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus, second left, and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa A. Johnson, left, at the presidential palace in Baabda, in east of Beirut, Lebanon. Alamy Alamy Disarm The US diplomat's visit comes less than two weeks after Lebanon's cabinet tasked the army with developing a plan to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah by the end of the year – an unprecedented step since civil war factions gave up their weapons decades ago. A second cabinet meeting on 7 August tackled a US proposal that includes a timetable for Hezbollah's disarmament, with Washington pressing Lebanon to take action on the matter. The cabinet endorsed the introduction of the US text, which lists 11 objectives including 'ensuring the sustainability' of the November ceasefire agreement with Israel, and 'the gradual end of the armed presence of all non-governmental entities, including Hezbollah, in all Lebanese territory'. There were extensive meetings between Lebanese diplomats, including Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji this morning including Britain, which is a permanent member, and current temporary Security Council member Pakistan. The vote in the UN Security Council can be vetoed by one of the permanent countries – there is a fear that the US will veto it in support of Israeli pressure. Multiple sources in Ireland and abroad we spoke to said they are quietly confident of a renewal but that it may come with strict conditions. Israel routinely carries out air strikes in Lebanon despite the ceasefire, and has signalled it would not hesitate to launch destructive military operations if Beirut failed to disarm Hezbollah. The Journal has observed Israeli positions within South Lebanon and close to Irish bases on a recent visit to the region. Irish troops as well as other peacekeepers have been fired upon by Israeli forces and the factions have also attacked peacekeepers. On 9 August, in an apparent effort to show the Beirut Government were serious in their commitment to disarm Hezbollah, six LAF soldiers were killed inspecting a Hezbollah arms bunker. Today Barrack on stressed that 'dealing with Hezbollah, as we've always said, is a Lebanese process'. With reporting from AFP Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Sunday World
an hour ago
- Sunday World
Tragic Irish fashion designer Martha Nolan O'Slatarra to be laid to rest this week
The 33-year-old was found dead on a yacht in the United States nearly two weeks ago TRAGIC Irish fashion designer Martha Nolan O'Slatarra is due to be laid to rest in her native Carlow this week. The 33-year-old was found dead on a yacht in the United States nearly two weeks ago. In a notice posted in it was announced that her funeral will be held at The Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow on Wednesday, followed by burial afterwards in St Mary's Cemetery. The notice described her as the "beloved daughter of Elma, much loved sister of Jacqui, treasured granddaughter of Betty and Liam, cherished niece of John, Michelle, Barry and Mona and adored partner of Nick". "She will be sadly missed by her loving mother and her mother's partner Patrick, sister, aunts, uncles, partner, her father Seamus and her siblings, her grandfather Jimmy Slattery, extended family, relatives and her large circle of friends in Ireland and the U.S." Martha Nolan O'Slatarra Today's News in 90 Seconds - 18th August Police in the US are still investigating the circumstances surrounding her death on a boat at the Montauk Yacht Club in East Hampton on Long Island, New York, in the early hours of Tuesday, August 5. Detectives previously said a post-mortem examination 'did not show evidence of violence and her final cause of death is pending further examination'. They also said a 'preliminary investigation and exam', after they arrived at the scene, 'were inconclusive' in informing a cause of death for the businesswoman. Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office have now released her remains for the funeral this week in Ireland. Martha Nolan O'Slatarra Her family have been told that a final post-mortem report, including toxicological, histological and other testing, will take at least three months to complete. Concern for Ms Nolan O'Slatarra began at around midnight on the night in question when a man called 911, according to the Suffolk County Police Department. Suffolk police said 'good Samaritans' tried to perform CPR, but she was pronounced dead on the boat by first responders. As part of their investigations into what caused her death, homicide detectives have obtained CCTV footage from the yacht club. In the footage, Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra is seen walking along the dock with a male companion several hours before she died. Martha Nolan O'Slatarra was found dead at Montauk Yacht Club in The Hamptons Detectives are also examining a number of mobile phones for clues. A 'second-opinion autopsy' has been carried out on the remains, at the request of the family. They have engaged high-profile criminal defence attorney Arthur Aidala to push for answers in relation to the police investigation into the death. Ms Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra had been living in Manhattan after moving to New York in her mid-20s. She studied University College Dublin and later pursued a master's degree in digital marketing at Smurfit Business School. She had set up her own luxury brand, 'East x East' which came online in 2023. She subsequently launched a series of pop-up boutiques in The Hamptons, featuring her line of swimwear and sunglasses. And just weeks before her death, she celebrated a milestone by hosting a pop-up shop for the lifestyle brand at the popular Gurney's resort in Montauk.
Sunday World
an hour ago
- Sunday World
Probe launched after man seriously injured during interaction with garda in Dublin city centre
The Garda ombusman is looking into the matter that took place near the Holiday Inn on O'Connell Street. The Garda ombudsman has launched an independent investigation after a man suffered serious injuries after an interaction with a garda in Dublin city centre last week. The incident, referred to the Ombudsman by An Garda Síochána, took place in the early hours of Friday, August 15, near the Holiday Inn on O'Connell Street. The 51-year-old man was reported to have sustained "serious harm', prompting a referral under new policing legislation. O'Connell Street Today's News in 90 Seconds - 18th August Fiosrú is now appealing for witnesses who may have been in the area at the time. In particular, investigators are keen to hear from anyone close to the hotel at around 4.15am, or from drivers — including taxis — who may have dashcam or mobile phone footage. 'Anyone with information which may be of assistance to this independent investigation is asked to contact Fiosrú at 0818 600 800 or info@ the Ombudsman's office said. One of Fiosrú's on-call investigators attended the scene on Friday and the office has confirmed it is continuing to engage with the injured man's family. The referral to Fiosrú was made under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which requires the Garda Commissioner to pass on any matter indicating that the act or omission of a garda member may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person. Section 203(1) of the Act provides for such referrals, while Section 208(1)(b) prevents the Ombudsman's office from making further public comment while an investigation is underway. Fiosrú said the investigation is ongoing and that no additional details could be provided at this stage. A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said: 'An Garda Síochána referred an incident to Fiosrú following an interaction between a member of the public and an on-duty Garda Member on Friday 15th August 2025'.
