'We cannot change our skin colour' - Minister receives letters from frightened Indian immigrants

Ken Foxe

The Justice Minister was inundated with emails and letters from frightened immigrants about a series of vile attacks on the Indian community.

In one message, a woman wrote about being unable to “change her skin colour”, and asked what she was supposed to do to feel safe while walking around.

Another wrote of being fearful of speaking their native language in public spaces and terrified of “commuting [and] walking alone.”

One email said Ireland’s famous ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’ seemed more of a “gimmicky marketing slogan” than the day-to-day reality for people living here.

The messages were sent in the wake of a shocking assault in July in Dublin, where an Indian man in his forties was left stripped and bloodied on the street.

A total of 280 pieces of correspondence were received by Minister Jim O’Callaghan, of which his department released a sample of 40 under Freedom of Information laws.

In one, a person wrote: “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.”

Another wrote: “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?”

One email was sent to Tánaiste Simon Harris before being forwarded to the Department of Justice.

“Do you understand the fear and tension in the air in Ireland at the moment?” it said.

Another person said it was frightening to think attackers felt emboldened enough to film the attacks and upload them to social media.

A message said: “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.”

One Irish person called for the opening of a “new youth offenders camp” to imprison those that threatened the migrant communities that were keeping our health services functioning.

Another wrote: “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.”

Not all letters were in support of migrant communities, however, with some choosing to share unsupported and debunked claims about other crimes.

Others said the spread of these conspiracy theories on social media were directly leading to tension and violence.

They said two named groups on one platform were “consistently spreading harmful narratives that fuel division, fear, and anger towards immigrant populations".

Another said Minister Jim O’Callaghan himself needed to be more careful about his own stance of being seen as tough on immigration.

“These attacks do not take place in a vacuum,” they wrote.

Asked about the correspondence, a spokesman for the Department of Justice 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.”

He said laws had recently been amended to ensure hate-motivated violence would result in increased sentencing parameters for judges.

The spokesman added that An Garda Síochána takes hate crime very seriously and that every incident was professionally investigated with support provided to victims throughout the criminal justice process.