Gardai confirm probe into alleged attack on girl, 6, told to 'go back to India'
A day after The Irish Mirror revealed details of the shocking ordeal six-year-old Nia Naveen is alleged to have suffered outside her home in Waterford City, the force confirmed it was investigating the incident.
We revealed yesterday that Nia's family say she was punched and told to go back to India in the incident on Monday outside the family home in the Kilbarry area of Waterford City.
Now, Gardaí have confirmed to us that the matter is the subject of an investigation by officers in Waterford.
A spokeswoman told us: 'Gardaí responded to a report of an alleged assault in the Kilbarry area of Waterford city on the evening of Monday 4th August 2025.
'Investigations are ongoing.' KS Naveen and Anupa Achuthan pictured with their daughter Nia Naveen and their son Nihan Naveen in their home in Waterford on Tuesday (Image: Jim Campbell)
Nia's mother Anupa Achuthan told us that Gardaí had visited her home on Wednesday to keep her updated on the investigation.
'They told me they were investigating and that they also said that they would do some patrolling.'
And she repeated her insistence that she did not want the kids involved – who were as young as eight – punished.
She said: 'I do not want it to happen to anyone else. I am not completely aware of the system in Ireland. But I strongly believe physical punishment is not really good.
"I would say the social workers, the Gardaí, the school and the teachers would (provide) counselling.
"The system has to support them. Actions have to be taken appropriate to their age."
Anupa, who has lived and worked in Ireland for eight years and recently became an Irish citizen, said the gang included a girl aged around eight - and several boys between 12 and 14.
Anupa said the incident happened on Monday evening when Nia was playing outside the home the young family moved into in January.
She told us: 'I let her outside for a few seconds. My husband was at work on night duty. He was off to work and I was alone with my 10-month-old and my six-year-old.
'She went out with her friends. I was supervising them just in front of the house. They were playing together and I knew they were safe.
'My youngest one started crying because it was his feeding time so I just let Nia know that I would be popping inside the house and she could play with her friends and I would be back in a second after feeding the baby.'
But she said Nia came back into the house upset after around a minute.
Anupa said: 'She was very upset, she started crying. She couldn't even talk, she was so scared.
'I had never seen my daughter like that.
'I just asked her friends what happened and they were all so upset, they couldn't talk.
'One of her friends said a gang of boys older than them hit her on the private parts with a cycle and five of them punched her on her face.
'She told me five of them punched her in the face.
'One of the boys pushed the bicycle wheel onto her private parts and it was really sore.
'They said the F word and 'Dirty Indian, go back to India'.
'She told me today they punched her neck and twisted her hair.' Anupa Achuthan pictured with her daughter Nia Naveen during an interview with reporter Michael O'Toole in their home in Waterford on Tuesday (Image: Jim Campbell)
Anupa also told us she took Nia to hospital for a check-up following the incident.
And she said she had to take her to her GP on Thursday for more treatment as she was still in pain.
The mum of two says she also felt guilty at not being able to protect Nia.
She said: 'I feel so sad for her. I could not protect her. I never expected that such an incident would happen.
'I thought she would be safe here.'
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