Irish president condemns ‘despicable’ attacks on Indians amid rising hate crimes

Irish President Michael D Higgins on Tuesday strongly condemned recent attacks on members of the Indian community, calling them “despicable” and a betrayal of Ireland’s values.

In a statement, Higgins expressed “deep gratitude” for the Indian community’s immense contribution to Irish life, praising their work in medicine, nursing, care, culture, business, and enterprise. “Their presence, their work, their culture have been a source of enrichment and generosity to our shared life,” he said.

His remarks come amid mounting concern over racially motivated violence. In recent weeks, Indian-origin residents have faced a spate of assaults, prompting the Indian Embassy in Dublin to issue a safety advisory urging citizens to avoid deserted areas and remain vigilant, citing “an increase in physical attacks” against Indians.

Recalling the historical bonds between the two nations, from shared struggles for independence to Irishwoman Margaret Cousins’ role in founding the All India Women’s Conference, Higgins said such acts of violence “diminish all of us” and “obscure the immeasurable benefits the people of India have brought to this country.” He warned that “messages of hate or incitement to violence,” including those spread on social media, corrode the Irish traditions of hospitality, friendship, and care for others.

“These principles must apply to all who form part of Irish society today, without exception,” he stressed, adding that Ireland must remain a place “where all communities can live in safety, dignity, and mutual respect.”

The warnings follow several violent incidents in recent weeks. On July 19, a 40-year-old Amazon employee from India, in Ireland for just three weeks, was beaten, stabbed in the face, and partially stripped by a teenage gang in Tallaght, Dublin. Authorities are treating the case as a possible hate crime. Jennifer Murray, an Irish woman who intervened, said in a video the next day that “at least four Indian men and another man have been facially stabbed by this gang of teenagers.” She said the victim required a brain scan and was left “completely scarred for life.”