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India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
Exclusive: "They haven't recorded it as the case," says mother of Indian child in Ireland hate crime
A brutal racist attack on six-year-old Nia Naveen outside her family home in Ireland has highlighted serious concerns about rising hate crimes and inadequate police responses, according to an exclusive interview with her a child of Indian origin, was attacked by a group of teenagers whilst playing directly in front of her residence. Her parents, Anupa Achuthan and Naveen, are Irish citizens who have lived in Ireland for almost eight Trauma and FearThe attack left lasting psychological scars on the family. "It was so scary experience at that time because, you know, we were alone at that time and she was playing just in front of our house, so that was scary," explained Anupa. "Nia wasn't ready to play outside for two days. She was so scared and all."The trauma extended beyond Nia herself. "We are still living in with that trauma as a parent of a six year old and a 10-month old," Anupa added, describing the ongoing impact on their family Response FailuresPerhaps most shocking was the initial police response to the incident. "We informed police about this, but they were not. They haven't recorded it as the case. That was a surprising thing for us," Anupa revealed. "After one day only, we went to the police station again. Then only they were ready to take it as a registered case."Teenage Protection Laws Under ScrutinyAnupa identified Ireland's teenage protection laws as a significant contributing factor to these attacks. "I think there's a teenage protection law which is very valuable in Ireland. That is one factor because all these racist attacks are happening from a group of teenage boys," she explained. "I think they are well aware that if even if something is happening, they won't be get arrested and they won't be punished."Recent Deterioration in Social ClimateDespite their long-term residence, the parents noted a recent shift in Ireland's social environment. "Ireland wasn't like this before. This is my first experience. I think recently, I would say less than a year, these things are changing now," Anupa was careful to distinguish between individual perpetrators and Irish society broadly: "I won't say Ireland is racist and I can't say that because I am working in a hospital. I have many Irish friends, colleagues. They are very upset and they're very supportive."Pattern of Unreported CasesThe incident appears part of a broader pattern affecting the Indian community. "Since few months, all the Indian community and other nationals, we are hearing these racist attacks," Anupa said, referencing other incidents including "the Thala incident" where "one man was brutally had an attack from the teenage gang again."advertisementConcerningly, many cases remain unreported. "What I understood from the messages from many other people after these incidents... many cases are not yet officially registered. They are neglected," she RecoveryNia has begun to recover with community support. "She said she want to play again with her friends. She started playing yesterday again," Anupa shared. "All these kids came home, they were very supportive talking to her, trying to engage her."Calls for Legislative ReformThe parents are calling for systemic change. "The government has to do something because this is not the only case," Anupa emphasised. "We need some change in the law of teenage protection laws. That's a matter of real concern, and the government has to address that, I think."The case underscores urgent questions about hate crime legislation, police training, and the protection of minority communities in Ireland's changing social landscape.- Ends
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Gardai confirm probe into alleged attack on girl, 6, told to 'go back to India'
Gardaí are now carrying out a criminal investigation into an alleged racial attack on this little girl, it has emerged. 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.' Follow us on Twitter @IrishMirror - the official Irish Mirror Twitter account - real news in real time. We're also on Facebook/irishmirror - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Irish Daily Mirror, Irish Sunday Mirror and Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here. 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
The Journal
4 days ago
- The Journal
Indian family in Waterford say kids attacked their six-year-old and racially abused her
AN INDIAN NURSE has spoken out about an alleged attack on her 6-year-old daughter in a housing estate in Co Waterford on Monday night. Anupa Achuthan, the girl's mother, told The Journal that the attack happened on Monday evening after 7 pm, in front of the family's home. She says that a group of boys who appeared to be aged 11-13 physcially attacked her daughter Nia, by hitting her with a bicycle in her 'genital area' and punching her in the face. Anupa said that her daughter and friends of her daughter, who witnessed the alleged attack, said that the teenagers told Nia to 'go back to India' and used abusive language. Her daughter said that five teenagers were involved in the attack, later Anupa saw two boys and one girl in that age range hanging around outside her house, while she was trying to console her daughter. Anupa brought her daughter University Hospital Waterford as she had 'swelling on her face and pain in her genital area'. The mother of two was at home with both of her children, and keeping an eye on her daughter Nia while she was playing in their housing estate, when she went back into the house briefly in order to feed her ten-month-old. 'My husband was on night duty for work, and I was alone with the kids. I nipped inside briefly, as in the estate we are all generally keeping an eye on the kids when they are just playing outside, and around two or three minutes later my daughter and her friends knocked at the door and she was scared and crying,' Anupa said. Advertisement 'Initially she wasn't able to talk to me, and her friends told me a gang of older kids had hit her on her face. 'After five minutes the boys who hit her with the bike came back with the bike, and Nia cried again, she was very upset. We went inside the house and the boys continued to stare in at me very rudely, even I felt afraid,' Anupa said. Anupa said that she reported this incident to the gardaí, and that it has made her and her family feel less safe where they live in the Kilbarry area of Co Waterford. A garda spokesperson said that gardaí are investigating after they responded to a report of an elleged assault in the Kilbarry area of Waterford city on Monday 4 August. The Indian embassy in Ireland has warned its citizens to take safety precautions for their personal safety after what it says has been a rise in physcial attacks on members of the Indian community. The embassy said that people should avoid 'deserted areas, especially in odd hours'. An attack on a man in Tallaght on 19 July by a group of teenage boys, who was beaten and had his clothing taken off him down to his waist, sparked outcry from members of the Indian community and locals. Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore recently shared an open letter from an Indian nurse who said that they plan to leave Ireland. In the letter the nurse said that they have come to fear racial attacks against themselves and their children in light of a series of attacks. 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
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
'I could not protect her': Mother says her six-year-old daughter was told to 'go back to India'; bicycle wheel was pushed onto her private parts
The Indian-origin mother of the six-year-old daughter said she did not want the young boys to get punished but they need counseling. A six-year-old girl has come under racist attack in Ireland when she was playing outside her home in the Kilbarry area of Waterford City. Her mother Anupa Achuthan has been living and working as a nurse in Ireland for eight years and is now an Irish citizen, but her daughter was called a 'dirty Indian' and was asked to go back to India, Irish Mirror reported. '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," Anupa told the outlet. The mother said she was watching her daughter playing with other kids just outside the house and went inside to feed her toddler son who in 10 months old, when the attack took place. After a minute, the daughter came inside crying. '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," Anupa said. '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.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 1, 2 & 3BHK @ ₹79 Lakh* | Book Now or Lose 18 Lakh Ramky Lumina Enquire Now Undo 'Now I am really upset because she told me last night she was crying in the bed and is really upset to play outside. I do not feel safe here, even in front of our own house we believe she can't play safely," the mother said. Anupa said she ran outside and saw the gang comprising 12 to 14-year-olds. They understood that Anupa was the daughter's mother but they were staring at her and laughing. 'I believe this estate belongs to them as well. I do not want them punished, I would like them to get counselling. They have to be aware of this. I accept that they are kids, but they have to know how to treat other kids well," Anupa said, adding that she is not in Ireland without any qualifications. "We came here to fill a labour gap. We are professionals - we have all the certificates. I believe this is my country also. I belong here," Anupa said. The incident took place as Indians in Ireland came under random attacks, and the Indian embassy asked Indians to be careful in Ireland.
News18
5 days ago
- News18
'Go Back To India': 6-Year-Old Indian Girl Assaulted In Ireland Amid String Of Racist Attacks
Last Updated: Anupa Achuthan said her daughter Nia was attacked by a gang of boys, who hit her in her private parts and punched her in the face, while calling her "dirty Indian". In a shocking incident, a six-year-old girl was viciously attacked by a gang of boys in Ireland, who reportedly told her to 'go back to India". The young victim's mother, an Irish citizen, was distraught after the incident, and said the family was scared. Anupa Achuthan, a nurse who has lived in Ireland for eight years and recently became an Irish citizen, said her daughter Nia Naveen was attacked by several boys aged between 12 and 14. 'They said the F word and 'Dirty Indian, go back to India'," she told The Irish Mirror. The incident took place when the little girl was playing outside her own home, while Anupa went inside to feed her son Nihan, who was only 10 months old. 'It was around 7:30 pm and she was playing inside the house. She wanted to play outside and go cycling. I let her outside for a few seconds," she said. '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," Anupa added. Punched, Hit In Private Parts About a minute later, Nia came back into the house and 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," she said. One of Nia's friends said a gang of boys hit her on the private parts with a cycle and five of them punched her on her 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 said the family had moved into the house and Nia was happy until Monday's incident. Now the family does not feel safe. '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," she told The Irish Mirror. The girl's mother also said she saw the gang of kids after the incident, and they were staring at her and 'laughing". However, she said she did not want to see the kids punished, but given counselling. 'They have to be aware of this. I accept that they are kids, but they have to know how to treat other kids well," she said. 'They did it without any provocation, that is not acceptable. If the kids are doing this, we have to stop them, we have to educate them how to behave." Anupa also said she was proud to be Indian and also to have her Irish citizenship. 'I believe this is my country also. I belong here." Attacks On Indians In Ireland The incident came as the Indian community is reeling from three racist attacks in Dublin. Last month, an Indian man was violently attacked and partially stripped in a suspected racist assault in Tallaght, and sustained serious injuries to his face, arms and legs. The Indian embassy in Ireland issued a public advisory urging Indian citizens in Ireland to exercise increased caution amid a surge in physical assaults targeting members of the Indian community. 'At the same time, all Indian citizens in Ireland are advised to take reasonable precautions for their personal security and avoid deserted areas, especially in odd hours." Santosh Yadav, an Indian-origin entrepreneur and senior data scientist based in Letterkenny, who was brutally assaulted by a group of teenagers in Dublin last week. 'They snatched my glasses, breaking them and then beat me relentlessly across my head, face, neck, chest, hands and legs- leaving me bleeding on the pavement," he said. Earlier this month, an Indian taxi driver was attacked by two men pretending to be customers. The men hit him twice on the head with a bottle and fled, shouting, 'Go back to your own country." First Published: August 06, 2025, 21:48 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
