The Justice Minister received a flood of emails and letters from concerned members of the immigrant community following a string of disturbing assaults targeting Indians in Ireland, reports Breaking News.
One woman wrote that she couldn’t “change her skin colour,” and questioned what steps she could take to feel safe when walking in public.
Another message described a fear of speaking in their native language and expressed anxiety about “commuting [and] walking alone,” reports Breaking News.
One writer said that Ireland’s famed ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’ now felt more like a “gimmicky marketing slogan” than a genuine daily experience.
The correspondence followed a brutal attack in July in Dublin, where an Indian man in his 40s was left stripped and injured on the street.
Minister Jim O’Callaghan received a total of 280 submissions, with 40 released to the public under Freedom of Information regulations, reports Breaking News.
In one letter, a person shared: “I recall becoming acutely more aware of my skin colour and looking over my shoulder for months. I stopped going to my workplace in South Dublin. Now, I’m contemplating moving out of Dublin … out of fear for my family’s wellbeing,” reports Breaking News.
Another contributor said: “We cannot change our skin colour. I am a brown girl, dark-skinned – what should I do to be accepted in Irish society such that I feel safe walking around at any time of day or night?” reports Breaking News.
One of the messages had originally been sent to Tánaiste Simon Harris before being passed to the Department of Justice.
“Do you understand the fear and tension in the air in Ireland at the moment?” it asked, reports Breaking News.
Another email described the fear generated by attackers who felt confident enough to film assaults and post them online.
“This is deeply disturbing and extremely concerning. It is crucial that we send a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated and that perpetrators will be held accountable for their actions,” read one message, reports Breaking News.
An Irish correspondent urged the creation of a “new youth offenders camp” to detain those threatening migrant communities, who, they said, are vital to the country’s healthcare system.
Another asked: “I am interested in knowing how many of these criminals who beat Indian nationals in Dublin were arrested and charged. Had a similar incident occurred in New Delhi, there would be uproar in Ireland,” reports Breaking News.
However, not all correspondence was supportive of migrants—some included unfounded and discredited claims linking migrants to other crimes.
Others criticised the role of social media in spreading conspiracy theories that are intensifying community tensions, reports Breaking News.
Two named online groups were said to be “consistently spreading harmful narratives that fuel division, fear, and anger towards immigrant populations.”
One person warned that Minister Jim O’Callaghan needed to consider how his stance on immigration might be perceived, reports Breaking News.
“These attacks do not take place in a vacuum,” they said, reports Breaking News.
When asked about the public responses, a Department of Justice spokesperson said: “Attacks on individuals because of their inherent characteristics, including race, are abhorrent to the values of our republic and are condemned by any right-thinking people. The government is determined to stamp out hate-motivated crimes and to protect vulnerable communities,” reports Breaking News.
The spokesperson added that legislation had recently been updated to ensure that hate-based violence could lead to tougher sentences.
He also noted that An Garda Síochána treats hate crimes with seriousness, with all incidents thoroughly investigated and support provided to victims throughout the legal process, reports Breaking News.
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