‘Why is this happening?’: violent attacks terrify Ireland’s immigrant community

Thousand gathered to protest against racism after the assault of an Indian national in the Tallaght area of Dublin in July. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

In the west Dublin suburb of Tallaght, a group of teenagers accosted, beat and partially stripped an Indian man, who was then filmed staggering and bleeding. Days later a gang attacked another Indian man in the nearby suburb of Clondalkin, hitting him in the face, chest, back and legs, leaving him with a fracture, gashes and multiple bruises.

Days later again, two male passengers turned on an Indian taxi driver in the north Dublin suburb of Ballymun, striking him across the face with a bottle and shouting: “Go back to your country.”