Dublin: Fear and anxiety are mounting among members of Ireland’s Indian community as a spate of targeted attacks continues across the country. Concerns are being voiced not only by recent arrivals but also by long-term residents. The most recent incident involved a six-year-old Indian girl from Waterford, who became the latest victim of a suspected racist attack.
According to a Garda spokesperson, an investigation is underway into the incident, which occurred in Kilbarry, Waterford, on 4 August. The attack has sparked fresh concerns among parents in India whose children are studying in Ireland, prompting questions over the country’s safety for foreign nationals.
The case has drawn significant media attention in India, with outlets such as NDTV reporting that the girl was attacked by teenagers shouting “Go to India.” The Hindustan Times has also highlighted other recent assaults on Indians in Dublin, including incidents in which an Indian man was slashed and pushed onto a road, another was stabbed with a screwdriver, and data scientist Dr. Santosh Yadav was physically assaulted.
Chef Laxman Das — a resident of Ireland for over two decades — was also targeted in a violent attack on 6 August. While cycling to work in Dublin, Das was beaten, robbed, and thrown into a canal by three assailants, who stole his cash, two mobile phones, and e-bike. He described the incident as racially motivated and said he is now too afraid to return home, staying instead with friends.
A Changing Ireland
Ireland, long regarded as a peaceful and welcoming nation, has recently witnessed a rise in violent incidents. Refugees have reported harassment, abuse, and the destruction of their shelters. In some cases, false accusations — such as claims of child abduction — have sparked mob attacks.
One such incident occurred in June 2024 near a supermarket on O’Connell Street, Dublin, when a group of five, including women, assaulted a man after spreading an unfounded kidnapping allegation. Anti-immigration activists have accused migration of “destroying Ireland”, while some extremist groups have used attacks on Indians to pivot public anger away from refugees and towards other migrant communities.
The spread of misinformation has further fuelled tensions. In one widely circulated video titled “An Indian is Being Beaten”, attackers were heard chanting the Christian prayer Hail Mary, full of grace. However, it was later confirmed that the victim was not Indian, and the footage was misrepresented to incite hostility.
Concerns from Community Leaders
Sudeep Sanyal, Director of the Vedic Hindu Cultural Centre Ireland, said Indians in Ireland are “genuinely worried.” Having lived in the country for 21 years, Sanyal said he has never witnessed such a climate of fear. He explained that members of the community face hostility for multiple reasons — from working full-time and buying property to simply the colour of their skin. Many, he added, are now more cautious in public spaces.
Ireland’s Reliance on Migrant Workers
Despite the rising tensions, Ireland’s economy and public services are heavily dependent on foreign workers. Indians make up the third-largest immigrant group in the country and play a vital role in sectors such as healthcare, information technology, construction, transport, and hospitality.
In the healthcare sector alone, the Nursing Board Register for 2024 shows that of 89,496 registered nurses, 40% are from overseas, and 21% are Indian nationals. More than half of new nurses entering the profession in the year to May 2024 were trained in India.
Damian Nee, a member of the Patient Representative Council at St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, emphasised that Ireland’s health system “would not function without Indian nurses” and urged that their contribution be recognised and respected.
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