Foreign-born nurses and midwives in fear after recent 'horrific' attacks

Demonstrators marched to the Dáil recently to protest against the brutal assault on an Indian man in Tallaght. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

Distress and worry is spreading among over 35,000 foreign nurses and midwives working in Ireland in the wake of “horrific attacks” on migrants, a leading Indian nurse has warned.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has now called for zero tolerance of racially motivated abuse of workers.

INMO executive council member Varghese Joy came from India to work over 18 years ago. He is “very worried” by the changing situation and warned that nurses may leave.

“I’ve been contacted by quite a lot of nurses and midwives, there is quite a serious level of concern now,” he said.

He emphasised that nurses might walk to work at 7am or later at night so they are vulnerable when streets are quieter. He added: 

It’s not just Dublin, it’s Waterford, Cork, Letterkenny. There is a general mood of fear and concern everywhere, whether it’s a big city or in the countryside. 

An attack on a six-year-old girl in Waterford reported this week by her mother, also a nurse from India, is causing distress, he added.

“With that last incident, there is more upset than fear. To think that kids are being attacked is concerning,” he said.

Some 18,464 Indian nurses and midwives worked here last year, Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) data shows.

“There is no way the HSE could function or the private nursing homes if they leave,” he said. "Some nurses that I know are beginning to think about going to Australia." 

Indian nurses, like Irish nurses, are seen as mobile globally as they are highly trained and speak English among other languages.

Last year, some 35,429 nurses and midwives registered to work here had been educated outside of Ireland, according to the NMBI.

INMO deputy general secretary Edward Mathews said they play an essential role: 

They should not be afraid to go to and from their workplaces or anywhere else in their communities because of the disgraceful actions of some.

He called for condemnation of “recent horrific attacks on members of the Indian community” here.

“There must be a robust policing response to racially motivated abuse and attacks,” he said.

“We do not want Ireland to be a place where nurses and midwives are afraid to work.” 

These workers, mainly women, need more robust protections, he added.

“Everyone should have the right to work in an environment free from abuse or harassment of any kind, and to feel safe in their community,” Mr Matthews said.

He also highlighted the broader situation, saying: “It has never been more important to reject racism.” 

Just days ago, the Indian embassy in Dublin cautioned: “All Indian citizens in Ireland are advised to take reasonable precautions for their personal security and avoid deserted areas, especially in odd hours.” 

Mr Matthews pointed to this as worrying.

“It is unacceptable that consular services in Ireland feel the need to issue advisories about travel and personal security at unsociable hours,” he said.

“This should raise alarm bells, this is not the type of country we want to be.”