Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has described a violent attack on asylum seekers in Dublin city centre last night as a despicable new low.
“It is heartbreaking to think that 15 vulnerable people seeking International Protection in this country could be subjected to such brutality on the streets of our capital city.
“Just hours after setting up a makeshift camp on City Quay, they were attacked by individuals reportedly brandishing knives and pipes, forcing them to seek refuge in a garda station. Their tents were then slashed and thrown into the River Liffey.
“The Government’s failure to comply with Ireland’s legal obligations to provide accommodation for those seeking International Protection has led to a situation where asylum seekers are putting their safety at risk by being forced to live in tents on our streets. They are not there by choice – they simply have nowhere else to go.
“The coarsening of the debate around immigration is leading to increased attacks on migrant communities, as we also saw in Coolock this week. Such criminal behaviour is abhorrent to the majority of decent people in this country and must be confronted head on by the Minister for Justice and Garda Commissioner.”
July 17, 2024