Carrigaline event to be held in solidarity with victim of racist attack

Syed Haque was walking with family and friends when he was repeatedly punched and told to 'go back to your own country'

The community event to promote inclusion and solidarity will take place in Carrigaline Co Cork on Monday. File picture: Denis Minihane

A community event to promote inclusion and solidarity will take place in Carrigaline, Co Cork, on Monday, following a racist attack in the town last month.

Syed Haque, a father of two who works for a Cork logistics company, was walking with family and friends when he was repeatedly punched by a teenager and told to “go back to your own country”.

Mr Haque was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital, where he received 12 stitches for a deep cut above his right eye. He said he has continued to suffer pain in the eye since the attack.

Gardaí said they responded to reports of an alleged assault in Carrigaline Park at about 7pm on July 4.

A teenage boy was arrested and later released without charge, pending a referral to the Garda National Youth Diversion Bureau.

Liz Scott, who lives in Carrigaline, is helping to organise a community gathering in Carrigaline Park at 7pm next Monday, August 10, with residents from across the town being encouraged to attend.

Ms Scott said that people in the area had been left “very scared” by the attack on Mr Haque and warned that “it will take time to go back to normal”.

Ms Scott, who is also involved in organising upcoming Culture Night celebrations, said one performer she had approached declined to take part, citing concerns about a rise in racist attacks across the country.

“The majority of the community is very kind. I moved to Carrigaline because it is a vibrant, welcoming, beautiful place to live, and it still is,” she said.

“I live on a multicultural street and we all get on; we value one another and we look out for each other.”

Fianna Fáil TD Seamus McGrath, his party colleague councillor Patrick Donovan, and Fine Gael councillor Úna McCarthy will be speaking at Monday’s event, while councillor Audrey Buckley, who is away on holiday, has sent a letter to be read out.