A father of two from Bangladesh who required stitches following an alleged racist attack at a park in Co Cork has expressed concern about the “hate” incident, describing it as his first experience of this kind in two decades of living in Ireland.
Syed Haque, who works in a Cork logistics company, was struck by a teenage boy in Carrigaline Park last Monday evening while out for a walk with friends and family, reports Breaking News.
Haque has health issues and has been told by his doctor to go for a walk every day.
In an interview with the Neil Prendeville Show on Cork’s Red FM, he said that he was on the bridge at the park in Carrigaline when a “young fella” approached and pushed one of his friends, reports Breaking News.
“So I said ‘don’t do something like that because we can talk and solve it.’ Next, he just punched me for the first time. That punch not so strongly hit my jaw. I was surprised he punched me.
“Then that boy pushed my same friend and again I talk to the other friend and say ‘what is your problem? I am not here to fight or make any trouble with you’,” reports Breaking News.
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Haque said that the group consisted of young girls and boys, and that the youth punched him a second time.
“I started bleeding and fell down. He said ‘Go back to your home. It is not your country.’ He punched me first on the left hand side and then the right.
“My son ran to me because my face was full of blood. When the garda came they had gone. They had vanished from that place. The garda take my details,” reports Breaking News.
Fortunately, a paramedic was passing by and went to his assistance, with a dressing applied to his right eye.
Haque was transferred by ambulance to Cork University Hospital for treatment for a deep gash above his right eye, where he required 12 stitches, and has suffered from pain in his right eye since, reports Breaking News.
He said that his teenage son and daughter are really upset about what happened, and that he himself has been feeling anxious since the attack.
“I am really scared at this moment. I am worried about them (his children). I am worried day and night,” reports Breaking News.
Meanwhile, gardaà confirmed they responded to reports of an alleged assault which occurred in Carrigaline Park at 7pm on 4 July.
A teenage boy was arrested in connection with the incident and has since been released without charge pending a referral to the Garda National Youth Diversion Bureau, reports Breaking News.
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