Sir, – I was shocked to read a report on the RTÉ website about the rise in racism experienced by black people in Ireland.
As someone born outside Ireland but who has lived here for more than 40 years, I found the details in the report very disturbing. I had, of course, experienced incidents of racism on occasions but nothing on the scale mentioned [in the Being Black in the EU report, from the Vienna-based Fundamental Rights Agency (News, October 25th)].
I always thought the vast majority of the Irish people were great.
After all, they themselves had experienced discrimination in Britain, Australia and the US.
Dublin riots left north inner city youth ‘traumatised’ by the stigma of violence
A helping hand with the cost of caring: what supports are available?
Matt Williams: Take a deep breath and see how Sam Prendergast copes with big Fiji test
New Irish citizens: ‘I hear the racist and xenophobic slurs on the streets. Everything is blamed on immigrants’
We need effective legislation to stop hate crimes and hate speech.
Ireland cannot afford to ignore this or it will live to regret it. This is simply intolerable in a civilised society. – Yours, etc,
PIROOZ DANESHMANDI,
Dublin 7.