Image Source: irishcentral.com
Irish President Michael D. Higgins on Tuesday strongly denounced recent assaults on members of the Indian community, describing the incidents as “despicable” and a violation of the principles Ireland stands for.
In an official statement, Higgins expressed “deep gratitude” for the contributions of the Indian community to Irish life. He praised their role in medicine, nursing, care, culture, business, and enterprise, saying, “Their presence, their work, their culture have been a source of enrichment and generosity to our shared life.”
The president’s remarks come amid growing alarm over racially motivated violence in Ireland. Over the past few weeks, several Indian-origin residents have been attacked. The Indian Embassy in Dublin recently issued a safety advisory, warning citizens to stay alert and avoid isolated areas due to “an increase in physical attacks” targeting Indians.
Recalling the deep historical connections between the two nations — from their shared struggles for independence to Irishwoman Margaret Cousins’ role in founding the All India Women’s Conference — Higgins said such violence “diminish[es] all of us” and “obscure[s] the immeasurable benefits the people of India have brought to this country.”
He warned that “messages of hate or incitement to violence,” including those circulating on social media, erode Ireland’s traditions of hospitality, friendship, and compassion. Higgins stressed, “These principles must apply to all who form part of Irish society today, without exception.” He added that Ireland must remain a country “where all communities can live in safety, dignity, and mutual respect.”
The warning follows a series of violent incidents in recent weeks. On July 19, a 40-year-old Amazon employee from India — who had been in Ireland for only three weeks — was brutally assaulted by a teenage gang in Tallaght, Dublin. The attackers reportedly beat him, stabbed him in the face, and partially stripped him. Authorities are investigating the case as a possible hate crime.
Jennifer Murray, an Irish woman who stepped in to help, later said in a video that “at least four Indian men and another man have been facially stabbed by this gang of teenagers.” She said the July 19 victim required a brain scan and had been left “completely scarred for life.”
