Daijiworld Media Network- Dublin

Dublin, Aug 7: In a deeply disturbing case of racism in Ireland, a six-year-old Indian-origin girl was brutally attacked by a group of older children in Waterford City. The young girl, Nia Naveen, whose family hails from Kottayam in Kerala, was playing near her home when she was targeted with racial slurs and physical violence.

According to her mother, Anupa Achuthan, the attackers — a gang of boys aged between 12 and 14 — assaulted her daughter, calling her "dirty" and ordering her to "go back to India." The gang reportedly punched Nia in the face, hit her with a bicycle on her private parts, and pulled her hair.

Recalling the traumatic incident, Ms Achuthan, a nurse who has been living in Ireland for the past eight years, said, “She couldn’t even speak. She came inside crying and terrified. I’ve never seen her like that. Her friends who were with her were also shaken and told me about the attack.”

The family had recently moved into the locality and were settling in well, until Monday evening changed everything. Ms Achuthan was briefly inside feeding her 10-month-old when the incident occurred just outside their house.

Following the attack, she confronted the group of boys, who allegedly laughed and stared at her defiantly. Despite approaching the gardai (Irish police), the mother has not demanded punishment for the boys. Instead, she has urged for counselling and awareness measures. “They’re kids, and they need to learn. I don’t want them punished – I want them to understand,” she said.

Expressing her anguish, Ms Achuthan said her daughter is now too scared to play outside and has been crying at night. “I feel helpless. I came to this country for a better future. I am a proud Indian and also proud to be an Irish citizen. But after this, I don’t feel like I belong here.”

Highlighting her contribution as a healthcare professional, she added, “We came here to fill a labour gap. We are educated professionals. My children were born here. Still, we are called dirty people. I don’t know how the government will respond to this, but I urge them to ensure our children are safe.”

This incident adds to a growing list of racist attacks in Ireland, including recent cases reported in Dublin’s Tallaght and Clondalkin areas. In response to the surge, the Indian Embassy in Dublin has issued an advisory, urging Indian nationals in Ireland to remain cautious.

The heartbreaking episode has sparked calls for stronger action to promote racial harmony and safeguard immigrant communities in Ireland.