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Irish Examiner
21 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Paul Hosford: Attacks on Indian people come from the normalisation of racism
Last week, an embassy of India issued a stark warning. "There has been an increase in the instances of physical attacks reported against Indian citizens recently. The Embassy is in touch with the authorities concerned in this regard. At the same time, all Indian citizens are advised to take reasonable precautions for their personal security and avoid deserted areas, especially in odd hours." Embassies often make warnings about security situations or perceived dangers posed to their citizens, that is not new. But this warning was made about Ireland. In 2025. Does it make you feel a little bit ashamed? A rise in attacks on the Indian community which includes an assault on a man in his 40s in Kilnamanagh in south-west Dublin in which he was attacked viciously by a group of young men, stripped of his pants and underwear and baselessly accused of inappropriate behaviour towards children. A rise in attacks on the Indian community which includes an attack on Santosh Yadav at a train station in Clondalkin. He suffered a broken cheekbone after a group of teenagers on e-scooters attacked him. A rise in attacks on the Indian community which includes an attack on taxi driver Lakhvir Singh by two of his passengers. He told The Irish Times: "My children are so scared, they have asked me to promise them that I will never drive a taxi again". Mr Singh had been on a drop-off to Poppintree with two men, one of whom willingly paid the €50 fare upfront, though one did not want to take a taxi with a 'black' driver. "The customer sitting in the front ran out and around to my door,' he said. 'He tried opening it but I held it firmly shut and the second man ran around to help his friend open the door. When they couldn't get it open, one of the men ran back around to the passenger side, picked up a broken bottle from the ground and struck me twice across the forehead. He was shouting 'Go back to your country' at me." A rise in attacks on the Indian community which includes a group of boys telling six-year-old Nia Naveen to "go back to India" as they hit her. Six years old and attacked by a group of teens shouting racist abuse. Racist attacks in Ireland are not a new phenomenon, just ask anyone who isn't white and doesn't speak with an Irish accent. But the latest spate of attacks on Indian people is simply the outworking of a renormalisation of racism within our public discourse. It starts with "legitimate concerns" about "unvetted men" and becomes marches demanding the country "get them out". In these instances, the "them" is never defined, handing those who try to sneak their racism in through the backdoor the plausible deniability when something like the above happens. You see, they were talking about "them", not "them". The joy of creating the other is that you never have to take responsibility when your ugly caricature is imposed on a different other. But the racist narrative that has found itself more comfortable in the homes, minds, and conversations of Irish people in recent years is a direct facsimile of every racist playbook ever, and those who meekly allow its passage should be embarrassed to be hoodwinked by it It starts with public meetings where lies about immigrants go unchecked, then becomes protests at IPAS centres, standoffs with gardaí and abuse roared at women and children fleeing from war. But all of these are justifiable, right? The community has fears, services are stretched, and the town doesn't want to lose a facility. The ends justify the means, surely? And while that front door is being hammered and attacked, the insidious message is smuggled through as "legitimate concerns" become dogwhistling photos of queues for new-build homes featuring large numbers of Indian people. And that turns into questions about whether non-native Irish people should be allowed to buy homes at all in a housing crisis, or demands that they prove they are here to stay. I do not suppose to speak for the immigrant communities of Ireland, but this moving of the goalposts is constant when people claim they're not racist, but... First, it's that people who come here should integrate and speak the language. But just this week, a video of a black man singing Oró, Sé Do Bheatha 'Bhaile was labelled "disgusting" by some of the worst people on the internet. A follow-up response by a black Irishman living in London pointing out that on his London-based GAA team he is the only one Irish-born and Irish-speaking member drew the same predictable and tiresome rhetoric from the emboldened and increasingly unhinged anonymous fringe. This is why there is no point in attempting to discuss issues of immigration with those whose starting position is blind hatred. You cannot reason with them because their end goal is mass deportation, racial segregation and a version of Ireland that neither existed nor is possible When they say Make Ireland Great Again, I don't know which version of a great Ireland was achieved without immigration being a part of Irish life. The two greatest periods of Irish prosperity have occurred in the last 30 years and have been made possible in part by the contribution of those who came from beyond our shores. There are an estimated 90,000 Indian people in Ireland, and they are crucial in our health and tech industries. However, even if they weren't, if they came here and worked and lived peacefully and contributed to their communities, they would deserve to do so unmolested. There can be no narrative of good immigrants versus bad immigrants, as if there is a bar beyond contribution and decency for any of us. An attack on one group among us is an attack on us all. It is easy to play off these incidents as youthful aggression, the kind of things that bored boys do. But these cases are more insidious, more complex and definitely more vicious. And they are the direct outworking of a conversation that was never wanted in good faith and was always designed to get to this point, where people who are good and decent and welcome in our communities are writing open letters because they no longer want to remain in a country where their community does not feel safe. We must meet these narratives head-on. We can have a discussion about immigration if a conversation is genuinely being sought — because if the current system was working, there wouldn't be people sleeping in tents. But that conversation cannot be a cover for violence against our neighbours, violence against each other. And it is incumbent on all of us to speak out when the wolves arrive in sheep's clothing or when their dangerous narratives are repeated back to us at the dinner table or in the pub, no matter how uncomfortable that may be. Because the reality for those of us who don't conform to a narrow version of Irishness is a lot more uncomfortable.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- RTÉ News
'People are worried': Fears grow among Indians living in Ireland
Ireland is making the news in India for all the wrong reasons after a series of violent assaults here against Indians and those with Indian heritage. "A six-year-old Indian-origin girl is the latest victim of racist attacks in Ireland," read a recent article on the New-Delhi-based NDTV about a reported assault by older children in Co Waterford, during which she was allegedly told to 'Go back to India'. A report in the Hindustan Times, an Indian English-language daily newspaper, cites several other recent cases, all in Dublin, including the knife-slashing of an Indian man, the stabbing of another Indian man with a screwdriver and the beating of data scientist Dr Santosh Yadav. "People back home in India, they are really worried," said Sudeep Sanyal, a director of Vedic Hindu Cultural Centre Ireland. "I'm here 21 years. I've never seen it like this," Mr Sanyal added. Worried parents in India are concerned about children planning to study in Ireland, for example, he said. "People are asking, 'How safe is it?" Some attacks have been linked explicitly to racism. Others may be random crimes. Early on Wednesday 6 August, Laxman Das, a chef from eastern India working in Ireland for over 20 years, was cycling to his job when he was attacked and robbed along the canal in Dublin 6. Three thieves stopped his bicycle and punched and kicked him, he told Prime Time. They "took everything," he said, including cash, two mobile phones and his e-bike. The effect has been physical as well as psychological, he says. He is currently staying in a friend's house, adding that he is scared to go to his own home. "People are really worried," said Mr Sanyal. "Ireland was always known as a peaceful country, a kind, loving country. But recently… there's incidents happening regularly," he said. "I feel a lot of this is racism." These attacks come amid growing concerns about racist harassment and violence in Ireland. Some harass applicants for international protection who are sleeping rough, abusing them and sometimes destroying their tents. Some attacks involve gangs who make false claims that the victim – usually a foreign man - was involved in some sort of sexual impropriety. One violent assault linked to false claims took place in June 2024 outside a supermarket on Dublin's O'Connell Street. In footage shared on X, a man is attacked by at least five people. A voice in the video claims he "tried to kidnap children," while another can be heard shouting, "kill him, kill him." The victim is punched and kicked repeatedly. At one point, a woman removes her shoe and strikes him over the head several times; another appears to hit him in the face with a cup of iced coffee. One common refrain among those targeting immigrants, and one echoed by some anti-immigration politicians, is that immigration has "destroyed" Ireland. In reality, many areas such as information technology, construction, transport and hospitality are heavily dependent on immigrants. The last census showed that Indians were the third-largest immigrant group in Ireland and our health system in particular is reliant on workers from the Indian community. According to the 2024 nursing board register, 40% of Ireland's 89,496 registered nurses and midwives qualified outside Ireland. Twenty-one per cent were trained in India. And our health system is becoming more reliant on Indian nurses. In the 12 months to May 2024, just 22% of all newly registered nurses had trained in Ireland while 52% had trained in India. "We would not have a health service without these wonderful Indian nurses," said Damien Nee, a member of Dublin's St James's Hospital's Patient Representative Council. "We should cherish them… Most people don't realise the extent to which our health service just would not function without these wonderful people," Mr Nee added. Last week, the Indian Embassy in Ireland advised its citizens in Ireland to "take reasonable precautions for their personal security and avoid deserted areas, especially in odd hours." It's a caution that resonates with some long-time residents. "I feel that a certain segment of the society don't like me for whatever reason," Mr Sanyal. He wonders if that dislike stems from the fact that Indians like him are "working here full-time, working hard, contributing to the society" or because "we are buying houses… I don't know." Like a lot of Indians living in Ireland, Mr Sanyal says he is now more careful and more nervous when out in public, aware that, for some, his skin colour makes him a target. "I can't hide. I'm exposed. I can't change my colour. I'm born like this. I'll go back to God like this... The colour of my skin should not matter. What I'm giving back to the society… is what matters, if I'm connecting with people… not how I look."
India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
Why are Indians being attacked in Ireland?
Ireland, once celebrated for its warmth and inclusivity, is grappling with a disturbing surge in hate crimes targeting its Indian community. Throughout 2025, a pattern of violent attacks has emerged across the country, from Dublin's streets to Waterford's neighbourhoods, leaving families terrified and questioning their future in what they once considered a land of opportunity. A Pattern of Terroradvertisement The attacks have been systematic and brutal. In July, a 40-year-old Indian man was ambushed in Tallaght, Dublin, by a gang who stripped him of his trousers and left him bloodied on the street. The attackers falsely accused him of inappropriate behaviour around children, weaponising lies to justify their violence. Only the intervention of an Irish woman, Jennifer Murray, prevented further Santosh Yadav, a respected senior data scientist, suffered a similar fate when six teenagers attacked him without provocation as he walked home from dinner. His glasses were shattered, his cheekbone fractured, and his dignity trampled. His crime? Being most heartbreaking is the case of six-year-old Nia Naveen, punched in the face by boys aged 12 to 14 whilst playing outside her Waterford home. They called her a "dirty Indian" and left her traumatised in her own front yard. Her mother's tearful television interview captured the anguish of a community under in FearThe India Council of Ireland now receives at least two hate crime reports daily. Taxi drivers are struck with bottles and subjected to racial slurs. Families no longer walk alone after sunset. Parents hesitate to send children to school or parks. Professionals who have spent years building lives in Ireland whisper about community's fear is compounded by apparent police inaction. Despite CCTV footage, eyewitnesses, and viral social media clips, few arrests have been made. The Garda claim to be investigating, but victims report a troubling lack of visible progress or protection.A Societal SicknessThe perpetrators are predominantly teenagers, raising disturbing questions about Ireland's social fabric. What influences are shaping young minds to commit such violence? Social media has amplified anti-immigrant sentiment, whilst Ireland's housing crisis and economic pressures have created fertile ground for late July, hundreds marched through Dublin demanding action, holding banners reading "Stop Racist Violence" and "We Belong Here." Yet the question remains whether Ireland is truly a CrossroadsThe Indian Embassy has issued safety advisories and maintains emergency helplines, but diplomacy cannot substitute for domestic action. Ireland faces a choice between healing and reform or allowing hate to fester Indian community seeks not revenge but basic dignity and safety. They want to raise children without fear, visit temples without threat, and believe their adopted country will protect them. These are reasonable expectations for any resident, regardless of response will define its character for generations. Will it uphold the values of hospitality and inclusion it has long championed, or will it allow a minority of violent voices to tarnish its reputation and betray its principles?Time is running short, and every moment of inaction represents another betrayal of Ireland's soul and another reason for talented, peaceful migrants to seek safety elsewhere.- Ends
News18
3 days ago
- News18
Hit In Private Parts, Punched In Face: 6-Year-Old Girl Attacked In Ireland, Called 'Dirty Indian'
Last Updated: The girl's mother shared that the attack occurred on Monday, August 4, while the 6-year-old was playing outside her home with friends. In another racist attack against Indians in Ireland, a six-year-old girl was allegedly assaulted by a group of children. The six-year-old Indian girl was reportedly punched in the face and hit in the private parts as the attackers asked her to 'go back to India." Speaking to the Irish Mirror, the girl's mother shared that the attack occurred on Monday, August 4, while the 6-year-old was playing outside her home with friends. According to the mother, the gang of children who attacked her daughter included a girl aged around eight and several boys between 12 and 14. Six-Year-Old Assaulted, Called 'Dirty Indian' '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," the mother told The Irish Mirror. The mother has recently acquired Irish citizenship and has been a nurse and living in Ireland for about eight years. 'I told her I would be back in a second after feeding the baby," she said, adding that the girl came back home upset. 'She was very upset, she started crying. She couldn't even talk, she was so scared," the mother added further. The nurse, who has been living in Ireland for around eight years now, said that she saw the group of boys involved in the assault. However, she added that the boys just stared at her in a confrontational manner. 'I saw the gang afterward. They were staring at me, laughing. They know I am her parent. The boys were maybe 12 or 14, and they were still roaming around here," she said. The Indian woman has filed a complaint with Garda police. Despite the brutal assault on her daughter, the woman is not seeking a punishment for the boys, but is hoping they receive the counselling and guidance they need. Attacks against Indians on the rise There has been an uptick in racist attacks against Indians in Ireland. The rise in attacks also prompted the Indian embassy in Dublin to issue an advisory and emergency helpline numbers of Indian nationals in the country. In July, at least three attacks against Indians in Ireland were reported. In Tallaght, an Indian man was assaulted by a group of 10 teenagers. The gang stabbed the man in the face multiple times during his walk to the local temple. In Dublin, an Indian man in his 20s was attacked by teenagers at a tram stop. As per reports, the man was pushed, beaten, and stabbed in the face with a screwdriver. In another incident in Dublin, Dr Santosh Yadav, a senior data scientist, was returning to his apartment when six teenagers attacked him from behind. view comments Location : Ireland First Published: August 07, 2025, 07:20 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.
The Journal
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Ambassador to India says attacks on migrants are 'deeply at odds' with Irish values
THE IRISH AMBASSADOR to India has described recent attacks on migrants as 'appalling' and 'deeply at odds' with the values of Irish people. Gardaí are currently investigating whether an assault on a man in Tallaght last month may be a hate crime. Santosh Yadav, originally from India, was set upon by a group of young men, severely beaten and partially stripped. In his article today, the Ambassador said attacks like this one are 'mindless' and 'could not be further from the values Ireland holds dear'. 'Fueled by misinformation' Kelly wrote that people have shown their solidarity for the victim and the wider Indian community in Ireland, with Shamrock Rovers even inviting them to be special guests to their UEFA Conference League match at Tallaght Stadium. 'These attacks – carried out by a small number of young people fuelled by misinformation – are deeply at odds with the values of the Irish people,' he said. Advertisement 'They are not representative of who the Irish are as a people or as a country.' He said Ireland is a 'migrant nation' that is aware of the immigrant experience. The population of Ireland is around five million, but 70 million people worldwide claim Irish heritage. 'Ireland has long prided itself on its warm welcome and hospitality. The overwhelming majority of Irish people welcome migrants into their society, workplaces, and homes.' He said the country wants to see Indian people live safe and prosperous lives wherever they choose. 'That is, I strongly believe, the experience of the overwhelming number of migrants, from India and elsewhere, in Ireland,' Kelly said. 'The emergence over recent years of a tiny — but sadly vocal — anti-immigrant movement, largely fuelled by online misinformation, is a new phenomenon for us. We are grappling with it. 'Thankfully, the vast majority of people utterly reject their attempts to sow division. There is virtually no public support for their manifesto of hate.' Related Reads Attack on Indian man in Dublin: 'Words aren't enough, Irish people need to do more' Indian Embassy in Ireland warns citizens to 'avoid deserted areas, especially in odd hours' Crowds march against racism following assault of Indian national in Tallaght Gardaí have appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the assault on Yadav to come forward. No arrests have been made so far. Government and opposition politicians alike condemned the attack . A few days after it happened, a group marched from City Hall on Dame Street to the Dáil in a protest against racism. Need more clarity and context on how migration is being discussed in Ireland? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online. Visit Knowledge Bank 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
