A Mother’s Distress After Racial Attack on Her Young Daughter
A mother is deeply upset after her six-year-old daughter was allegedly attacked by a group of children who made racist remarks towards her. Nia Naveen, the young girl, was reportedly told to “go back to India” and was called the F-word during the incident.
Anupa Achuthan, Nia’s mother, shared the heartbreaking experience with the Irish Mirror. She explained that the attack occurred while her daughter was playing outside their home in the Kilbarry area of Waterford City. Anupa, who has lived in Ireland for eight years and recently became an Irish citizen, said the gang involved included a girl around eight years old and several boys between 12 and 14.
The incident took place on a Monday evening when Nia was playing outside with her friends. Anupa was supervising them from just outside the house when she had to go inside to feed her 10-month-old son, Nihan. She allowed Nia to stay outside for a few seconds while she attended to her youngest child.
However, shortly after, Nia came back into the house upset and crying. Anupa described how her daughter was too frightened to speak at first. When she asked her friends what happened, they were also visibly shaken. One of the friends revealed that a group of older boys had attacked Nia, hitting her on the private parts with a cycle and punching her in the face.
Nia told her mother that five boys punched her in the face, and one pushed the bicycle wheel onto her private parts, causing significant pain. The attackers also used racial slurs, telling her to “go back to India.” Nia added that one of the boys also punched her neck and twisted her hair.
Anupa expressed her deep sadness over the incident, saying she felt unable to protect her daughter. She mentioned that everything had been going well since the family moved into their new home in January. Nia had made new friends and enjoyed playing in the neighborhood. However, the incident has left her feeling unsafe even in front of their own house.
She also mentioned that she saw the gang of children after the incident and noted that they stared at her, laughing. Despite reporting the event to the Garda, Anupa does not want the children punished but instead believes they should receive counseling. She emphasized the importance of educating the children on how to treat others with respect.
Anupa is proud of her Indian heritage and her Irish citizenship. However, she feels that she no longer belongs in Ireland due to the racial comments and attacks. As a nurse, she has dedicated her life to caring for others, but she now feels that her community is not safe.
She also highlighted the recent attacks on Indian men in Dublin, including incidents in Tallaght and Clondalkin. These events have left the Indian community in Ireland shaken. The Indian embassy issued a warning to its citizens, advising them to be cautious.
Anupa stressed that she and other Indian professionals came to Ireland to fill labor gaps and contribute to society. She believes that the government should address these issues and ensure that all residents feel safe and respected.
Despite the challenges, Anupa remains hopeful that Ireland can become a place where everyone, regardless of background, can feel at home. She continues to advocate for change and support for her community.