Fear Grips Indian Community in Ireland after Attack on Young Girl

A six-year-old girl, Nia Naveen, has become the latest victim of a racist attack in Ireland on Monday evening.

Nia was playing outside her house in Waterford City, in southeast Ireland, when a group of children aged between 12 and 14 attacked her.

According to reports, the attackers told her to “go back to India.”

Nia’s mother, Anupa Achuthan, a nurse who has been living in Ireland for the past eight years and holds Irish citizenship, spoke to the media about the traumatic incident.

“It was around 7:30 pm. She was playing inside the house and asked to go cycling outside. I let her out for a few seconds. My husband was on night duty, so I was alone with our 10-month-old and our six-year-old. I was supervising them just in front of the house. They were playing together, and I knew they were safe,” she recalled.

Ms. Achuthan said she went inside briefly to feed her son. A few minutes later, her daughter came inside looking visibly shaken.

“She started crying. She couldn’t even speak—she was so scared. I had never seen her like that before. I asked her friends what happened, but they were all so upset they couldn’t talk. One of them finally said a gang of older boys had hit her in the private parts with a bicycle and that five of them had punched her in the face,” the mother said.

The attackers also allegedly used abusive language during the assault. The ethnicity of the attackers remains unknown.

Following the incident, Ms. Achuthan filed a complaint with the local police station. However, she stated that she does not want the children punished, but rather hopes they receive counselling.

“I believe this estate belongs to them as well. I don’t want them punished—I would like them to get counselling. They need to be aware of what they’ve done. I understand they are kids, but they have to learn how to treat others with kindness,” she said.

She expressed deep concern for her daughter’s well-being:

 “Last night, she told me she cried in bed. She is now too scared to play outside. I don’t feel safe anymore, even in front of our own house. It breaks my heart that I couldn’t protect her. I never thought something like this could happen. I thought she would be safe here.”

“This is my second home. I was proud to become an Irish citizen, but now I feel like I don’t belong here,” she added.

“I am a nurse. I work hard to care for people and always act professionally. I chose to change my citizenship, but we are still called dirty people, and now even my children are not safe. I don’t know how the government plans to respond to this. We came here to help fill the labour shortage. We are qualified professionals—we have all the necessary certifications. I believe this is my country too. I belong here.”

Similar incidents of physical attacks have been reported in areas like Tallaght and Clondalkin in Dublin.

In light of the increasing number of racial attacks, the Indian Embassy in Dublin issued a statement advising Indian citizens in Ireland to remain cautious.

The embassy recommended avoiding “deserted areas, especially during odd hours.”

This latest attack has spread fear throughout the Indian community in Ireland, prompting some members to consider leaving the country.