The family of Mr David Richardson, the English tourist who was stabbed repeatedly in a racially motivated attack in Dublin at the weekend, yesterday spoke about their experience.
Mr Richardson, his wife Laverne and son Christian were attacked by a group of six or seven youths as they walked to their son's home in Ringsend after a meal in a city centre restaurant. They had been celebrating their wedding anniversary and their son's 24th birthday. It was the couple's first visit to Dublin together.
They had been unable to hail a taxi, and were attacked after the gang began shouting racial abuse at them. Mr Richardson is white and his wife and son are black.
Christian said the gang were shouting: "Niggers out", "black bastards" and "monkeys", and throwing beer cans at them.
The Richardsons, Christian's girlfriend, Ms Emily Bermingham, and another couple had had a meal at a Thai restaurant.
Mr Christian Richardson told the Bristol news agency, South West News Service: "It had been a brilliant night. We were walking back down Pearse Street and my dad was just saying how great it had been.
"Then we passed a group of kids outside a chip shop and one shouted: `Niggers out.' They carried on shouting as we walked up the street. It was a hail of abuse . . .
"They left me alone but they went for my parents. One was trying to grab my mum's bag. I was trying to defend them both.
"Then I heard my mum scream: `He's got a knife.' Suddenly there was blood everywhere. It was awful . . . It was the first time I had really encountered any racism in Dublin. It is usually a very friendly city."
Yesterday gardai from Pearse Street station arrested two more youths from the area. Two youths who were arrested on Sunday morning and questioned were released.
Mr Richardson (46) suffered massive blood loss from three stab wounds to his back and three to his chest. He received 18 pints of blood during surgery on Sunday at St James's Hospital.
Mrs Richardson and her son escaped injury. The gang left quickly after Mr Richardson's collapse. Yesterday Christian flew to Bristol to collect his 19year-old sister, Charlene, and bring her to their father's bedside.
He said: "My mum is being so strong but she is devastated. We all just pray he pulls through."
Christian moved to Dublin a year ago and is working in telecommunications.