Indian community hold silent protest at Department of Justice after attack
More than 100 people attended the vigil in a show of solidarity with the victim of a violent and unprovoked assault in Tallaght last weekend.
Representatives handed in a petition to the Minister for Justice calling for greater action to be taken to prosecute hate-related crimes.
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to the assault that occurred at Parkhill Lawns, Kilnamanagh, Dublin 24 on 19 July at around 6pm.
Eyewitnesses and gardaí have confirmed that the Indian national, who's in his 40s, was the victim of an unprovoked assault.
He was wrongfully accused of acting inappropriately in the area and was set upon by a gang of young teenage boys.
The victim had just arrived in the country a week prior to the assault and had started work with a tech company in Dublin.
The gang pulled the victim to the ground, and was beaten and stripped from his waist down.
They ran off with his clothes and left him bloodied and shaken on the street.
An Garda Síochána have recorded the incident as racially motivated and are investigating it as a hate crime.
No arrests have yet been made.
Politicians have also condemned the assault and said the full force of the state should be mobilised to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Another gathering is due to take place in Tallaght later this evening, where local community groups will stage a protest against racism.
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Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
The racist attack on an Indian man in Tallaght recently was not a once-off. Ireland must act
When I first watched the now-removed social media video of a man bloodied and stripped in a Dublin street, I felt my stomach turn. The images were violent, yes, but the silence of the onlookers hit harder. Helpless and humiliated, the victim of the ruthless actions of a few anti-social elements stood surrounded, not by support, but by scrutiny. No one intervened until much later. And somehow, in the noise that followed, the narrative became not about the victim, but about invented claims against him. What happened in Tallaght on the evening of July 19 wasn't just a senseless brutality. It was the culmination of misinformation, racial profiling and a deeper discomfort with confronting racism when it shows up at our doorsteps. As someone from India now living in Dublin, I find this incident both frightening and painfully familiar. Within hours of the man's video going viral, false rumours about him had spread like wildfire on social media. The original lie that he had exposed himself to children was debunked by the Gardaí. Yet, the damage was done. People believed the falsehood because it was easy to do so. In our digitally connected world, fabricated information often travels faster and farther than facts. This is what happens when misinformation and disinformation are taken at face value. It is deeply unfortunate that something like this even happened in the first place. However, this one incident has triggered broader debates and much-needed conversations. It has nudged people to think more actively about racial violence and false narratives that perpetuate such violence. Protesters marching to the Dáil to protest against the Indian man's brutal assault in Tallaght. Photo: Leah Farrell/© In the days since, I've heard countless stories from others in the Indian and wider migrant community. Many recounted experiences of racial slurs, glares, harassment and in some cases, assault, which go unreported or are not investigated swiftly. The common thread in most of these stories? The perpetrators were often teenagers. This incident has heightened my safety concerns. I still believe in Ireland's potential as a welcoming place. I've been embraced by Irish friends, neighbours and colleagues who have shown immense warmth. But I now walk a little faster past certain groups. I look over my shoulder more than I used to. And I find myself worrying more for my friends and for those who are yet to arrive here. What has brought some solace during this painful time is the powerful mobilisation of the Indian community and the support from other migrant groups as well. Last week, a delegation of the Indian community met with Ambassador Akhilesh Mishra at the Embassy of India in Ireland to present their concerns. They were answered with compassion and clarity which is the need of the hour. It was confirmed that the matter has been reported to higher authorities in India and Ireland. Margaret Byrne from Tallaght with her dog Pablo at an anti-racism protest organised by the Community group Dublin South-West Together (DSWT) in Tallaght at the weekend. Photo: Leah Farrell/© Taking into account the fact that many Indian students come to Ireland every year, a safety advisory for such incoming students will soon be issued. These initial steps are welcome, but what is needed is strong safeguards and speedy investigations. Community leader Raghav Dixit, who helped convene the delegation, echoed what many of us have been feeling. 'The first and foremost thing about the speedy investigation. Usually in such sensitive cases, the Garda Commissioner or Superintendent makes a public statement. Nobody has made that statement so far.' All of us appreciate the Gardaí's formal acknowledgement of the incident as racially motivated but it has come far too late. There are also concerns about Ireland's juvenile justice system, where there is a need to reform how serious offences committed by minors are handled. Let me be clear, this is not an Indian versus Irish issue. This is something that concerns all of us. This is about accountability, safety and human dignity. Members of the migrant community in Ireland marching to the Dáil to protest against the Indian man's brutal assault in Tallaght. In the days since, I've heard countless stories from others in the Indian and wider migrant community of racial slurs, glares, harassment and in some cases, assault, which go unreported or are not investigated swiftly. Photo: Leah Farrell/© Migrants don't just come to Ireland seeking jobs or education; they come here to build lives. Many South Asians arrive on critical skills visas, filling essential roles in healthcare, IT and education. We contribute, we belong, and we deserve protection. What we do not deserve is for our pain to be politicised or dismissed. The rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric online only fuels division and endangers real people. Thankfully, we have also seen compassion. From people like Jennifer Murray who stepped up to help the victim and gave out a clear message on what humanity truly means and from everybody who has come out in our support. Now we must look further and beyond. The Gardaí must be resourced adequately. Investigations must be swift and transparent. Hate crime laws must be enforced decisively, not after weeks of public pressure. And we must build solidarity, not walls, between communities. I still want to live here. I still feel at home, like many from India who have become naturalised citizens of Ireland and also represent us in the government. But silence is not an option anymore. Hate needs to be called out. If Ireland is to truly be the country it strives to be, diverse, kind, just, then what happened in Tallaght must be the beginning of a reckoning, not just another news cycle. I remember what several migrant communities shouted at a recent march in Dublin in condemnation of this incident: 'This is not the Ireland we came to, this is not what Ireland represents.' Let's make sure that remains true. Read More Colin Sheridan: Institutional racism wears a necktie
Irish Daily Mirror
16 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Indian man still 'severely traumatised' after racially motivated attack
An Indian man who was brutally assaulted in a racially motivated attack has been left 'severely traumatised" by the incident. The father-of-one was on his way to the Vinayaka Hindu temple in Kingswood, south Co Dublin when he was set upon by a gang of vicious youths who stripped him, beat him, and stabbed him in the face in the Kilnamanagh area at around 6pm on Saturday, July 19. The shocking attack occurred in broad daylight by a roundabout in Parkhill Lawns just before the entrance to Kilnamanagh opposite the busy Kingswood Luas stop. The innocent victim was attacked amid completely false claims by the attackers that he had committed a sexual act at the local playground. The man's company is now making arrangements to have him accommodated - as he's too 'scared' to even leave his current home following the horrific attack. Local councillor Baby Pereppadan, who knows the victim, said the terrified man only arrived in this country a month ago - and now efforts are being made to bring his family to him. 'He came only four weeks ago. His family are still in India. He's shocked. I spoke to his friend just yesterday. His company is arranging accommodation and also they're awaiting paperwork to get his family to come over here. He is scared. There is real trauma. His face is all swollen and he has not yet recovered." Cllr Pereppadan said the victim described to him how he was on his way to the temple at the Kingswood Community Centre when two groups of 'kids' approached him. 'There was two groups, altogether there was about 30 of them there. He was walking, they prevented him and were saying things like 'bloody Pakistani, bloody Indians'. He didn't say anything and then they hit his face first of all. He mentioned to me that this could happen to anybody.' L-R : Cllr Britto Pereppadan, Jennifer Murray and Cllr Baby Pereppadan Varghese. Jennifer saved an Indian man who was being attacked in Dublin The victim has expressed that he does not want to be identified or speak to the media about his horrific experience at this stage. The victim was rescued at the scene by brave local resident Jennifer Murray - who has described seeing him left naked and bloodied in the street. Speaking to The Irish Mirror, Ms Murray said she has continued to speak to the victim - who she said has been left severely traumatised by what happened. 'He doesn't want anybody to know anything about him. He's been very clear on that. He 100 per cent supports what I am doing getting awareness out there about the racism. He just kind of wants to focus on recovering for himself. He's severely traumatised,' she said. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week Describing the incident previously Ms Murray, who helped the victim and saw him transported to hospital said the gang 'punched him in the head with what I can only say was blades between their knuckles. He went down, completely covered in blood. He's got massive injuries. The blood did not stop flowing from his nose the whole hour I sat with him. They stripped him of his clothes. They took his trousers off him. They took his underwear. They took his shoes. They took his phone. They took his bank cards. They took everything. They left him for dead… they very, very easily could have killed him with what they did,' she said. Gardai say they are investigating the alleged assault and are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this incident to come forward. Any person, including road users and pedestrians, who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and who was travelling in the area between 6:00pm and 7:00pm on Saturday 19th July, 2025 is asked to make it available to investigating Gardaí. Anyone who observed any unusual activity and/or anyone with information is asked to contact Tallaght Street Garda Station on (01) 666 6000, the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. 'An Garda Síochána is appealing to people to not post or reshare social media content including footage related to this incident in order to protect the privacy of the victim involved,' a garda spokesperson said. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
RTÉ investigating potential cyber security incident
RTÉ is investigating a potential cyber security incident after receiving an alert over the weekend. The broadcaster was, in recent days, contacted by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the division of the Department of Justice that monitors online threats to the State. In a statement, an RTÉ spokesman said the organisation was 'contacted by the NCSC over the weekend regarding information it had become aware of'. 'RTÉ is currently reviewing this information and assessing its veracity,' the spokesman said. READ MORE It is understood the NCSC was contacted with a threat that may target several state bodies and has an expiry deadline of August 4th. The threat may relate to as many as seven bodies. The NCSC believes RTÉ may be one of the organisations targeted in the threat. It has advised the broadcaster of this information. Sources familiar with the situation said there is not currently a high degree of alarm over the threat. The exact nature of the threat is not yet known, while it is also unclear when RTÉ will complete its review of the information. Sources suggested a ransomware element may be involved. Last year, the head of the NCSC warned Ireland faced a 'far greater' risk of significant cyber attacks than previously experienced. In 2023, the most recent year for which data is available, the NCSC received more than 5,200 reports which gave rise to 721 confirmed incidents and 309 investigations by the centre. The vast majority of the incidents were considered to be at the lower end of a five-level scale used to determine the seriousness of a particular event. None of the incidents reported were deemed severe enough to be categorised in the top two levels of the scale. A spokesman for the Department of Justice said the NCSC does not comment on operational matters. There has been enhanced focus on the State's cyber security defences since a crippling attack on the HSE in 2021. That attack took many of the health service's systems offline, led to significant data breaches and cost more than €100 million to address. It is facing more than 470 legal actions , according to figures from last year.
