30% of incidents against children
The group’s final report on incidents of racism recorded between July and December this year show most cases were against adults. However, in 29% of cases young people and children were targeted. This was substantially higher than previously.
Overall, the most significant victims of racist incidents were black Africans, constituting 42% of all incidents. Travellers accounted for 10.5% while people of Asian origin, as well as Polish, French, Jewish and Muslim communities, also reported experiences of racism.
Overall, 42% incidents occurred in Dublin while others were also reported from Cork, Meath and Louth. Incidents related to assaults, abuse, discrimination in the workplace and the circulation of offensive material.
Specifically, 18 of the 56 racist incidents reported to the NCCRI concerned an article by Kevin Myers in the Irish Independent in July entitled “Africa is giving nothing to anyone — apart from AIDS”.
Separate incidents of abuse or assault included:
* A Nigerian woman reported being attacked in a car park of an adult education centre she attends. Another student shouted at her: “Black nigger, I am going to kill you, if you don’t leave my country, I will kill you.”
* A 15-year-old student of Iranian descent has been subjected to racial bullying by her peers at a school in Limerick. School students posted racial slurs about her on Bebo.
* A man claiming to be a concerned citizen rang MWR radio station to report the arrival of “100 trained killers” to Ballyhaunis in Co Mayo. The man was referring to Congolese refugees.
