Afrophobia in Ireland, Is The Government Folding Their Arms On This?

This is a report carried out by the European Network against Racism (Enar) Ireland, analysed nearly 200 reported incidents of racist abuse over a two-year period. It found that people of African descent have to deal with regular racist abuse including harassment, violence and discrimination. Enar is a group of more than 50 organisations, including Siptu, Age Action Ireland and the Irish Traveller Movement.

Lots of fearful residents in Ireland has narrated their ordeal in the hands of racists, and express their fears and worries. Take the case of Jane, a mother living alone with her two children in North Dublin recounts a lengthy period of harassment by a neighbouring woman and her children, which included repeated verbal abuse, an incident of assault, criminal damage and repeated threats.

“This Irish woman (about 35 years old) would not let my children play outside even in my own backyard, she said they are black and have no business being here. (She) calls my 12-year-old daughter ‘fat black b*tch’. She lives seven houses away from me, but she would send her children to come and be playing and throwing their ball into my garden just to provoke us and start a fight … 

Is the government in Ireland encouraging this type of behaviour? Let them face up to the racism present in the society, and to the challenges it presents.