Indian man to return home after violent Dublin assault; Community fears grow

London: An Indian national in Dublin, who was assaulted by a group of teenagers over the weekend, has decided to return to India following the incident, saying members of the community are now living in fear in Ireland.

The victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous, told Irish media that he was attacked by three individuals on Sunday evening while walking home from Fairview Park. He said one of the assailants, riding an electric scooter, kicked him in the stomach.

As he tried to walk away, two others joined in the attack and started hitting him, he told ‘The Journal'.

The attackers continued punching and kicking him after he fell to the ground. One then took his metal water bottle and struck him above the eye, leaving a deep wound and heavy bleeding.

He was later taken to hospital, where he received stitches for his injuries.

Irish police confirmed they are investigating the incident, which is the latest in a series of violent assaults targeting members of the Indian community.

The man said his parents, based in India, were concerned after the attack and asked him to consider returning, which he has now organised.

He added that many of his friends are now “scared to go outside” and some are planning on going back to India as a result.

Ambassador of India to Ireland Akhilesh Mishra had a meeting with Tony Tighe, Detective Inspector, Liaison and Protection, and Ciaran P Nunan, Inspector of An Garda Síochána, the Indian Embassy in Ireland said in a social media statement on Wednesday.

It followed Ireland President Michael D Higgins issuing a strongly worded statement to “unequivocally” condemn the “despicable attacks” on members of the Indian community.

“The recent despicable attacks on members of the Indian community stand in stark contradiction to the values that we as a people hold dear,” said Higgins on Tuesday.

His statement follows a string of disturbing incidents involving Indian nationals in Ireland, including a brutal assault on a six-year-old Indian girl who was allegedly attacked and hit in her private parts by a group of children.

In July alone, at least three violent assaults on Indians were reported, all involving mob-style violence. The repeated targeting of Indian individuals has alarmed both Irish citizens and the international community.

The president's intervention followed a similarly firm statement by the Archbishop of Dublin against the “truly shocking” and "unprovoked" attacks.

On Monday, the Ireland India Council announced the postponement of its annual “India Day” celebrations, planned in Dublin for Sunday, amid security concerns for the community.

An Garda Síochána, the Irish police force, has said that its investigations into the recent attacks remain ongoing and that it is “liaising with the injured parties in each case”.

PTI