Latest news with #Tallaght
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Irish Times
‘He kept saying, what wrong have I done? Why me?' An Indian man is left stripped and bloodied on an Irish street
Late last Saturday night, news began to spread online that an Indian man had been attacked in the Dublin suburb of Tallaght . Shocking images of the victim dripping with blood and walking the streets in his bare legs quickly followed. The man, who is in his early 40s and has requested anonymity and privacy following the attack, had arrived in Ireland three weeks previously on a critical skills visa to begin a new job with a leading international tech company. He left his wife and 11-month-old baby behind in southern India with plans to apply for their visas to join him in Ireland later this year. 'He came with lots of excitement but now he is traumatised, he's lost all his confidence,' a resident in the building where the man lived told The Irish Times. READ MORE The resident, who is also from southern India and requested anonymity, visited the man following his release from hospital. The victim is subletting a room in an Indian family's apartment in the complex. [ Man violently assaulted and partially stripped by gang in Tallaght Opens in new window ] 'He has two big scars on his forehead, his nose is broke, his left eye is almost closed, his eyes are black. He's got very visual bruises on his legs and thighs; he was really badly harmed,' the resident said. Online speculation and commentary have left the victim reeling. 'When he saw the pictures [online], he started gasping for breath; that's really shaken him. He just wants to run away and hide from people. 'He kept saying: 'I came here to make a living and live in peace. I was just walking to my place of worship. What wrong have I done, why me?'' Earlier that Saturday evening, July 19th, the victim set off on foot to the Vinayaka Hindu temple in Kingswood, following a Google Maps route. While walking through Kilnamanagh, he was approached by a group of teenagers who started taunting him and asking why he was in Ireland. 'He's very softly spoken; he's a humble guy, not aggressive in any way, and I think he was just being nice,' said his friend. 'He tried explaining he'd been hired by a tech company to fill a skills gap here in Ireland. And then they hit him badly on the head. For 10 to 12 seconds he didn't know where he was and then he realised blood was oozing from his forehead.' The group stripped the man from the waist down and took his trousers, before dispersing and leaving him to wander in a dazed state through the residential area. 'He was trying to take cover and seek help; he was so ashamed. A couple of cars passed him and one man hurled abuse at him. There's a video of that.' Videos of the bloodied man were quickly shared online, alongside claims he had been acting inappropriately around children before the attack. Gardaí have confirmed there is absolutely no truth to these claims. These claims were amplified by prominent anti-immigration accounts, including that of David Atherton, a journalist with a conservative website. 'In Tallaght, a suburb of Dublin, a migrant was caught exposing himself to children. He is covered in blood after being taught some manners,' Atherton falsely claimed in a post to his 300,000 followers on X, accompanied by a video of the man. Local resident Jennifer Murray spotted the victim as she drove by and stopped to help him. She gave him a blanket and waited with him for an ambulance to arrive. Later that night, she was shocked to see claims spreading online that the man was acting inappropriately. Her video refuting the claims went viral, racking up more than 500,000 views, and helping to counter much of the misinformation spreading online. However, others directed abuse towards her and, in at least one case, threatened to harm her. 'I was so suddenly aware of how dangerous word of mouth is. It was like watching the internet live in front of me,' she told The Irish Times. 'That's what really spurred me to alert the local residents to the truth.' The vast majority of the responses to her video have been positive, she said. Gardaí are continuing to investigate the incident as a potential hate crime and have appealed for witnesses to come forward. Legislation introduced earlier this year mandates tougher sentences for crimes motivated by racism or other bigotry. Akhilesh Mishra, India's ambassador to Ireland, praised Murray and the 'large number of common Irish people have also shared their concern and sympathy for the innocent victim'. He said the incident has caused 'widespread outrage, fear and concern among the Indian community all over Ireland'. [ Indian family suffers torrent of racial abuse on Belfast to Dublin train Opens in new window ] Mishra said the embassy has visited the victim and is liaising with the Garda and other authorities, as well as the wider Indian community. In another incident last Saturday night, Vikram Jain, an Irish citizen who moved from India 20 years ago, discovered his tenant had also been attacked. The young man, who is studying for a master's degree at Dublin Business School, arrived back at Jain's home with a broken nose. The student was walking through Sean Walsh Park in Tallaght at about 6pm when, he said, he was approached by a group of teenagers. I've lived in this country for over 20 years and always praised Ireland as one of the safest nations in the world. But my views have totally changed over the past three years — Vikram Jain 'They started hurling verbal abuse at him and then they punched him in the face and all over his body,' Jain told The Irish Times. 'He was bleeding badly when two other men came to help and brought him to the Garda station.' The student was later treated for injuries in Tallaght Hospital and has returned for daily check-ups since the assault, according to his landlord. The student says he was walking through Sean Walsh Park in Tallaght at about 6pm last Saturday when he was attacked. Photograph: Google Street View Gardaí confirmed they had been notified of an alleged assault on the evening of July 19th, 2025 at Sean Walsh Park and said investigations were ongoing. 'He is now terrified, not just of going out but of speaking up about what happened,' said Jain, who spoke to The Irish Times on his behalf. 'He's still in huge pain, he's scared and not eating. 'I've lived in this country for over 20 years and always praised Ireland as one of the safest nations in the world. But my views have totally changed over the past three years. Many people, especially immigrants, are now living in fear.' Indian IT workers, doctors and nurses have started sharing experiences of similar attacks in community WhatsApp groups, said Jain. Some no longer let their teenage children out to socialise and others avoid using public transport. 'There is a growing misunderstanding among some members of the public – particularly youth – about who immigrants are. Indian nationals pay substantial taxes, work in critical sectors such as IT and healthcare, and support the very infrastructure that helps Ireland thrive.' There are 78,086 Indian nationals living in Ireland, according to the 2023 population estimates from administrative data sources, collected by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Census data, which is collected using different methodologies, shows 45,449 were living in the State in April 2022. More than a third of skilled employment permits awarded by Government to foreign nationals in 2024 went to Indians. Some 13,500 Indians secured work permits last year, compared to 4,553 Brazilians and 4,049 Filipino workers. Indian nurses make up a fifth of all registered nurses and midwives in the State, according to 2024 figures from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. Nearly 18,500 Indian nurses and midwives are registered to work here alongside 54,000 Irish nurses, more than 7,000 Filipinos and more than 3,200 from the UK. I used to be comfortable going out alone but that incident took away my sense of safety. Even if my daughter asks me to take her to the park in the evening, I won't go without another adult — Jiby Palatty Jiby Palatty, who has worked as a nurse in a Dublin hospital for nearly two decades, contacted gardaí in mid-May after two teenage boys on an e-scooter threw a glass bottle that shattered on her leg while she was training in Lucan for the women's mini-marathon. Two months on from the incident, Gardaí visited her home this week to take a formal complaint. She described the injury to her leg as a 'surface wound, nothing major' but said the 'emotional trauma' ran deep. 'I've been here since 2006 and I suddenly felt like I wasn't welcomed. I felt embarrassed and alone,' she said. Indian nurses make up a fifth of all registered nurses and midwives in the State, nearly 18,500 Palatty quickly discovered she was not alone and that many of her Indian nursing colleagues suffered similar experiences. 'They never said anything because they felt shame and knew gardaí couldn't do anything because these are just kids,' she said. [ African, Brazilian communities 'lack trust' in gardaí, believe force takes 'lenient' attitude to racist attacks, report says Opens in new window ] 'I was so scared about running after that and it was only because I was training for the marathon that I found the courage to go back out with my husband. I used to be comfortable going out alone but that incident took away my sense of safety. Even if my daughter asks me to take her to the park in the evening, I won't go without another adult. 'There's been so many incidents in the park and I don't want to be that person in the wrong place at the wrong time. If I can, I will avoid it.' Fine Gael councillor for Donaghmede Supriya Singh said last Saturday's assault in Kilnamanagh 'wasn't random – it was hate'. 'There has been a noticeable increase in racially motivated attacks – not just on the Indian community, but on migrants more broadly,' she said. 'I hear from residents constantly that people are scared. This cannot become the new normal.' Data published by An Garda Síochána shows a 12 per cent increase in hate-related incidents reported in Ireland between 2022 and 2023, with most incidents linked to the victims' ethnicity or nationality. However, the force still warns that hate-related crime is underreported. [ Racism seen as permeating all aspects of Roma and Traveller lives in Ireland, European report finds Opens in new window ] The Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill needs 'clear definitions and real consequences' around hate speech, said Singh. Gardaí are also under-resourced and need the tools and training to identify, record and follow up on these crimes, she added. 'People who have made Ireland their home and contribute every day to its growth and success deserve our respect, not violence.'
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Irish Times
Hundreds gather in Tallaght for antiracism protest after assault on Indian man
Hundreds of people attended a public antiracism gathering in Tallaght called to protest an assault on an Indian national in the area last weekend. The crowd, which included many members of Dublin 's Indian community, heard the man, the father of an infant child who had just arrived in Ireland to take up a tech role with Amazon, was on the way to a religious service when he was set upon, beaten, stabbed, stripped and robbed by a group of youths. Jennifer Murray, a local woman who had intervened to help the victim told the crowd 'the attackers and people on social media rapidly spread a lie that this man had committed a crime of a sexual nature at the local playground. [ Man violently assaulted and partially stripped by gang in Tallaght Opens in new window ] 'No such thing [happened]. This is a complete fabrication to justify the beating, stabbing and stripping of an innocent man. The only crime here committed was by our own, by a gang of Irish teenagers. READ MORE 'But this is not who the people of Kilnamanagh are. This is not who the people of Tallaght are. So it is time for change. There's been a lot of negative people shouting very loudly lately, and it is time to turn our silence into action.' Jennifer Murray, who came to the aid of the Indian man attacked in Tallaght, meets other attendees at the protest. Photograph: Dan Dennison The innocent man who had been attacked, she said, 'has shown such dignity, such bravery and such humility in the aftermath of this awful ordeal, his wishes are just that this never happens to anyone ever again. But I say this never should have happened to him'. The crowd, which included TDs Louise O'Reilly of Sinn Féin and Ruth Coppinger of Solidarity-People Before Profit, as well as former TD Bríd Smith and a number of other local representatives, also heard from Shashank Chakerwarti, an activist and candidate in last year's local elections who was born in India but moved to Ireland with his family at the age of 12. 'Like many others,' he said, 'I don't claim to be Irish by birth but by belonging.' The Indian community and other migrants were not, he said, 'guests but fellow citizens' determined to contribute to 'making Ireland a fairer society'. A mother and daughter attend the protest in Tallaght Sarah Holland of Dublin South West Together said decent people had been appalled by what had happened last weekend and said those who claimed to be patriots in the spirit of those who led the Rising were misguided. 'The 1916 leaders wanted a Republic that cherished all its citizens because we are all equal,' she said. The crowd was addressed by a number of speakers, including politicians and community figures. Photograph: Dan Dennison The meeting, which took place outside the Rua Red arts centre close to the Square shopping centre, was flanked by a significant Garda presence amid rumours beforehand that a counter protest by members of the far right might spark violence. In the event, around a dozen people protested close by with a handful holding up placards bearing photographs of Ashling Murphy and the man who murdered her, Jozef Puska. The event ended without any disorder.
BreakingNews.ie
20-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Gardaí investigate suspected hate crime assault in Tallaght
Gardaí have opened an investigation into an alleged assault in Tallaght in Dublin. The incident happened on Parkhill Road at around 6pm on Saturday evening. Advertisement A man in his 40s was taken to Tallaght Hospital for treatment. Organiser of Dublin South West Together, Laura O'Reilly, said locals are in shock over what is believed to have been a hate crime. Speaking on Newstalk, she said: "The community are just really shocked and horrified that this has happened in our community in Tallaght. "We've always been a diverse community, and people in Tallaght have always fought for equality and a safe space for everybody with no exceptions.
Irish Times
20-07-2025
- Irish Times
Man violently assaulted and partially stripped by gang in Tallaght
Gardaí have opened an investigation after a man was violently assaulted and partially stripped by a group of attackers in Tallaght, Dublin , on Saturday. The man, who in his 40s and originally from India, was set upon by a group of young men and severely beaten before passersby came to his aid. Saturday's incident occurred at about 6pm and left the man bleeding from multiple wounds. The attackers had removed his trousers. The assault is being investigated as a possible hate crime, sources said. READ MORE It is understood the group had falsely accused the man of acting inappropriately around children. These claims were later spread online, including by prominent far-right and anti-immigrant accounts. Garda sources said there is no truth to accusations the man was acting inappropriately. 'Gardaí in Tallaght were alerted to an incident at Parkhill Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24, on the evening of Saturday 19th, July, 2025, at approximately 6pm,' a Garda spokesman said. 'Gardaí attended the scene and a male, aged in his 40s was taken to Tallaght University Hospital with injuries.' The man was released from hospital early on Sunday morning. Investigators believe some of the attackers have carried out other unprovoked attacks on foreign nationals in the Tallaght area recently. Paul Murphy, a People Before Profit TD for the area, condemned the assault. 'It's horrifying to see a vicious attack like this happen in our neighbourhood. 'Responsibility lies not just with those who perpetrated the violence but also with those who have been spreading racist lies. The community is really shocked and outraged and will stand together against violence, hate and division.' There have been a number of incidents of foreign nationals being attacked in recent months after being falsely accused of inappropriate behaviour. Earlier this month, an asylum seeker in Limerick was assaulted after he was falsely accused by a far-right group of inappropriate approaches to young children. Videos were shared on social media, and gardaí believe the man was singled out for attack the next day by someone in Limerick who recognised him from the footage. The victim was an international protection applicant in his 40s from Afghanistan . Gardaí described as 'misinformation and disinformation' the videos of the man recorded in the city's People's Park as people surrounded him and accused him of inappropriate approaches to young children. Earlier this week, Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said he is aware of instances of foreign nationals being falsely accused of crimes. 'Increasingly, you hear of people blaming immigrants for crimes. All I can say to you is: I have asked for the statistics and when you look at the prison population of people convicted of offences, the percentage of immigrants in prison is lower than the percentage of immigrants in society,' he said. 'So there's no substance to the suggestion that immigrants are more likely to commit a criminal offence.'
Irish Times
19-07-2025
- Irish Times
Man charged with assault at IPAS centre ordered not to incite hate on social media
A plumber, who allegedly voiced 'extremist' views during an alleged assault and criminal damage at an International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centre, has been ordered to avoid attending rallies and making social media posts that incite hate or violence. Declan Stubbs (34) of Bolbrook Drive, Tallaght, Dublin, was told 'people have a right to be in the State' by Judge Catherine Ghent at Dublin District Court on Saturday. The warning came at the end of a bail ruling after Mr Stubbs was charged with causing €1,000 worth of criminal damage by kicking the door of St John's House, an IPAS centre, on High Street, Tallaght, during a drink-fuelled incident on Friday. He also had a connected charge for trespassing at the IPAS centre, a minor assault of a named male there, resisting arrest, using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and being intoxicated to the extent of being a danger to himself and others. READ MORE Garda Gavin Cribbin objected to bail due to the seriousness of the incident, telling the court Mr Stubbs was accused of assaulting a security guard after he had to be removed from the building and kicked the door. The garda said Mr Stubs was arrested at the IPAS centre and that there was video footage. The court heard claims Mr Stubbs expressed 'extremist political, anti-immigration views'. Garda Cribbin feared the accused would interfere with staff or residents at the centre. Defence counsel Kevin McCrave argued his client could be freed on bail with conditions. He told Judge Ghent that the father of one had received bad personal news on Friday, was off his medication and could not remember threatening anyone because he was intoxicated. Counsel said his client worked full-time for a company and paid rent. Setting bail, Judge Ghent ordered Mr Stubbs not to go within 3km of the IPAS centre, except when he has to sign on three days a week at the nearby Garda station. He also has to provide his phone number. She ordered Mr Stubbs to refrain from making extremist posts on social media, 'for clarity, they are posts that would incite hate and/or violence'. The garda did not believe Mr Stubbs attended immigration-related rallies. However, the judge directed him not to attend rallies or marches reasonably considered as inciting hatred or violence. She told him that breaking the bail terms would not be tolerated and would put him in a difficult situation. Disclosure of evidence to the defence was ordered. Mr Stubbs was ordered to appear at Tallaght District Court on September 8th to enter a plea.
