A call for unity following attacks on Indian community
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Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Dublin archbishop urges public to report racist attacks amid rise in incidents against Indian community
The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell, has urged members of the public who witness racist attacks to report them to An Garda Síochána. The archbishop spoke after a spate of attacks on members of the Indian community in Ireland in recent months. The Indian embassy in Ireland says it has received reports of 16 attacks on members of the Indian community so far in 2025 — double the total reported last year. On Monday, the co-chairman of the Ireland India Council, Prashant Shukla, confirmed that the India Day in Ireland festival in Dublin's Phoenix Park this weekend will be postponed amid concerns for the safety of participants. "We are not too much concerned about the safety at the event, we are more concerned about the perception on social media," he told reporters on Monday afternoon, adding that a perception had been created that Indians had "taken over the state" and 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 said. Mr Shukla made the announcement after representatives of the Indian community met with Tánaiste Simon Harris at Government Buildings on Monday. Speaking on Tuesday, Archbishop Farrell issued a message of support to the Indian community in Ireland. Archbishop Farrell said many members of the community "have been invited here to Ireland to work in our essential services. They're very much integrated into our society,' he told RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland. 'The other message I want to convey is that the community in which they live also need to support the gardaí in terms of dealing with this matter because I assume it's a small cohort of people who are making life exceedingly difficult for them when they go out into the public domain." He said people who know the perpetrators should talk to the gardaí, identify them, and call them out so they can face prosecution. Archbishop Farrell said there could be "no place for this behaviour in our society where people are attacked on the public streets simply because of their skin colour." He said he regularly meets members of the Indian community in Ireland who are "looking after our loved ones, our sick relatives, and are recognised as being exceptionally good in the roles that they do. "So we need to support them." Archbishop Farrell said he had heard anecdotally of people from international communities experiencing racial hatred, including being spat at and shouted at on the street and on public transport. "This sort of behaviour is just completely and utterly unacceptable," he said. He also said that, as a community, "we need to deal with it as well as the guards can't deal with this just on their own, they need community support". 'They're writing to all of our parishes and parish councils, they're asking them to support the community and to help with them, help them particularly through this difficult time," he added. "They also intend to write to the schools. You know, when they open now in a couple of weeks' time – because I think schools are a good place to bring about the integration of the different communities in our country, and they're doing a good job of that, but just to encourage them to continue along that line and to name what's actually happening by some elements in our society.'
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- RTÉ News
A call for unity following attacks on Indian community
Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell, explains his call for unity after attacks on members of the Indian Community in Dublin.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Event in Dublin postponed as organisers ‘concerned about safety' after spate of attacks as ‘time to stand up' call made
The event has been held in Ireland since 2015 SAFETY FEARS Event in Dublin postponed as organisers 'concerned about safety' after spate of attacks as 'time to stand up' call made ONE of Ireland's top clerics has slammed the recent spate of unprovoked attacks on members of the Indian community in the capital and raged: We must call out racism when we see it. This comes as India Day in Ireland has been postponed following a 'spate of violent attacks' on members of its community in recent months. 3 Chair of the Ireland India Council Prashant Shukla said the decision was 'very difficult' Credit: PA 3 Aparna Shukla has asked for a cross-departmental taskforce to address the violent attacks Credit: PA 3 Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell said the recent attacks 'have been truly shocking' Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 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. Hundreds of performers had been preparing for the event at Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park on Sunday. Mr Shukla said: 'We are not too much concerned about the safety at the event, we are more concerned about the perception on social media.' He said that there has been an online perception created that Indians have 'taken over the state' and caused housing problems. He continued: '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.' Separately, Archbishop Dermot Farrell today released a statement urging people to stand up to the thugs terrorising the immigrant community in Dublin. The Ireland India Council met with Tanaiste Simon Harris this afternoon to ask for a cross-departmental taskforce to address the recent spate of violent attacks. Archbishop Farrell said: 'Recent attacks on members of the Indian community in Dublin have been truly shocking. Five people killed in 48 hours on Irish roads as Gardai issue safety appeal after telling 'dreaded news' to families '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. '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. 'It is time to call out those who peddle racial hatred. It is time to stand up to those who seek to divide our community through rumour and malice.' VIGIL HELD The issue has been highlighted after an Indian man was the victim of an unprovoked attack in Tallaght, Dublin, last month. 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'. PRECAUTION URGED They said Indian citizens in Ireland should take 'reasonable' precautions and avoid deserted areas. Fine Gael leader Harris has said he was 'deeply concerned' about the incidents and that he was particularly affected by a reported attack on a six-year-old girl in Waterford. He said 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 they wanted assaults on members of the Indian community to be recognised as hate crimes, to ensure the offences are 'appropriately recorded and addressed'. On Sunday, Minister of State Colm Brophy said he wanted the incoming Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly to prioritise addressing these incidents.
