'There's a feeling gardaí won't do anything': Dublin councillor on racist attacks
James Cox
"Victims are being let down" and "there is a feeling gardaí won't do anything about this" amid an increase in attacks on foreign nationals, according to a Dublin councillor.
A number of attacks on people of Indian origin have been in the headlines in recent weeks, including a man who was stripped and stabbed by a group of men, and a six-year-old girl who was attacked while cycling outside her home.
A number of similar incidents have been reported with concerns about violence driven by online misinformation.
In an interview with BreakingNews.ie, Green Pary Councillor Feljin Jose said: "People are very scared. It is important to say that this is not new... it's been going on for a long time. It has been highlighted more, and people are more aware of others' experiences.
"People who may have thought this was an isolated incident on them are realising that it's not, and that others have had similar experiences.
"Since Covid it has got increasingly bad, the hatred towards migrants, anti-social behaviour and violence in general has worsened.
"These attacks are targeting vulnerable people.
"You have these far-right influencers online stirring this kind of hatred and using teenagers to do their bidding."
Cllr Jose, 27, was nine when his family moved to Ireland from India, and he said his parents, family and friends are increasingly worried about his safety.
He said he refuses to limit his movements, and could not do his job if he did as he represents Phibsboro, Glasnevin, Drumcondra, Cabra and Ashtown.
"My own parents are telling me not to go out at night, not to walk alone, and I can't do that working as a public representative, I have to do my job. I can't change or not do things I have to do because of this.
"People are worried, there was a similar feeling of fear after the Dublin riots... a sense of vulnerability.
"I have heard from people who have changed their behaviour, have stopped going for a run, to the park, staying in after a certain time.
"We're also hearing stories of people just leaving Ireland."
Cllr Jose said he has been contacted by victims of racist harassment and assaults who do not feel gardaí are taking the incidents seriously enough, while others are afraid to come forward.
"There are so many incidents we don't hear of, incidents that are not reported.
"I remember the gardaí saying there had been no increase in attacks on migrants at one point, but do they have any idea how many go unreported? That is something they should try to measure.
"I've had people who get harassed or intimidated, almost every week. When I ask them if they'd like to speak with the media they say no because they're afraid it will put them more at risk.
"I'm hearing of people who go in to make a report and are discouraged from doing so. Putting yourself out there is a big risk so I understand why people may not want to, why they sometimes keep it to themselves and move on.
"I'm always encouraging people to go in and report these incidents, make a statement, even if there's no CCTV or they don't think it will go anywhere, at the very least people won't be able to say this isn't happening.
"It's a small number of people doing a lot of damage, spreading a lot of violence and fear."
Victims are being let down.
While there has been huge media attention on incidents of racial attacks, Cllr Jose said "victims are being let down".
"I still haven't heard of any charges coming out of these incidents.
"Overall I think the reponse is quite poor, I think victims are being let down. I've heard of far too many cases where someone is attacked and after calling the local Garda station, they are told to fob them off. I've also heard of people who went into the Garda station and been told nothing can be done.
"It's happening all too often. I tell people to go into the Garda station after incidents like this, insist on making a statement and don't leave the station until that's done."
He added: "I know there were statements from the gardaí saying they were taking these incidents very seriously... but then when you have victims trying to report it and the Garda at the desk not taking it seriously, there's a clear split there between what Garda management is saying to the media and the experience of people.
"There is a feeling that gardaí will not do anything about this, and with the conviction record you can understand why people think that.
"We need investment in youth resources to divert them from these actions, it's no coincidence these types of attacks flare up in the summer. You need to divert them from crime, but also to catch and punish those who take part in this violence.
"It's the same playbook across the world, accuse migrants of some form of indecent behaviour, and make up a cover to intimidate and attack them. This is being learned from other far-right and racist groups online from across Europe and across the US."
He was also critical of the response from Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan.
"My criticism of the Minister for Justice was about three weeks after these attacks were highlighted in the media, the demonstrations had taken place, he hadn't said a word.
"He first spoke last week, Simon Harris and the President had issued statements. The embassy in New Delhi had issued a statement before the Minister for Justice, that was damning.
"Our minister who is responsibole for crime, safety and law reform... and Jim O'Callaghan is not shy of a microphone.
"It's all well and good the Tánaiste setting up meetings with people... he's not the one dealing with this. It's not a diplomatic or foreign affairs issue, it's an issue for the Minister for Justice and it took him three weeks to say something.
"The fact the President of Ireland had issued a statement before the line minister... it's shocking."
