Racist attack on family’s takeaway in Limerick ‘unacceptable’

An attack on a takeaway run by a Pakistani family, in which racist slogans were daubed on the front of the premises, was outrageous and unacceptable in a civilised society, said a judge yesterday.

Mark Hobbs, an English man who moved to the town of Kilmallock, Co Limerick, painted slogans including “murderers out”.

He had previously threatened to kill the owner of Megabites, Ali Aslan, with a kitchen knife.

After his arrest, Hobbs, aged 50, of Herlihy Flats, Lord Edward St, Kilmallock, told gardaí he believed Muslims wanted to “take over and kill” everyone.

Hobbs pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to causing criminal damage on September 14, 2014.

Judge Tom O’Donnell said Mr Aslan came to Kilmallock to set up a business and the town embraced him as he embraced the community.

It was ironic, he said, that Hobbs also moved to Kilmallock, without any difficulty, to make his home there.

Judge O’Donnell

imposed a two-year suspended sentence and bound Hobbs to the peace for three years.