Following the disgusting assault on a teenage girl in Dundrum we are in the midst of media frenzy which is likely to have political ramifications. The assault itself is all too common however, the girl who was attacked in this case happened to be Muslim and her hijab was removed during the incident.
The Gardai have already stated that there is no indication that the assault was racially or religiously motivated. This has not stopped media figures, leftist keyboard warriors and politicians from seizing on the opportunity to use this incident to call for “hate crime” legislation.
While this incident was shocking the media reaction to it is telling about a political agenda that is pervasive and dangerous.
This becomes clear when we compare the reaction to this incident to the reaction to the sexual assault and rape of three Irish girls in Courtown, Co Wexford.
Despite the fact that the males involved are believed to have not been locals, have fled the jurisdiction and the public interest being extremely high various media outlets seem reluctant to cover it for some reason.
In contrast, politicians and TD’s such as Minister for the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, leapt at the opportunity to describe the Dundrum incident as a “hate crime” and publicly express their righteous indignation.
When three Irish girls are beaten, sexually assaulted and raped however, at a family holiday destination in Wexford, they curiously seem to have no interest in commenting publicly.
When multiple teens belonging to a particular gang operating out of Balbriggan in North Dublin posted footage on social media showing themselves beating a Garda and stamping on his head and bragging that this was “good enough for the pigs” – no political reaction, and media silence.
When those involved in this violence at the annual Drogheda Fleadh were then released from custody without charge most media outlets did not question this inexplicable decision.
It appears from these contrasting reactions to these terrible incidents that the government and elements of the media are bent on cynically using some crimes to push an agenda that would see legislation passed that could then be used to suppress alternative voices under the broad and loose
definition of “hate speech”.
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