A DOCTOR recruited from abroad has alleged he was racially abused and physically assaulted by a woman in a Co Louth nightclub.
Dr Syed Kamran Haider Bukhari, one of 100 doctors recruited from Pakistan by the Health Service Executive in July 2011, said he was reconsidering plans to bring his wife and two young children to Ireland because of the level of abuse he has received.
Dr Bukhari, who works for Louth Meath Mental Health Services, said he went to the club on Monday night with two colleagues from Pakistan.
While dancing to the music on his own he said he was abused by a young woman. He said she was then taken away by a friend, but later returned and continued the abuse while assaulting him. “She was drunk, she slapped me and abused me, and there were many witnesses. I felt so bad, but took the humiliation. Still she didn’t stop and kept on abusing me for nothing, and kicked me,” he said.
Dr Bukhari said he was quite distressed over the alleged attack “having worked Christmas and New Year’s Day for the people in this community I am here to help”.
He claimed security men on the door laughed at him when he complained and produced a card identifying him as a psychiatric worker.
He said another young woman confirmed to the security staff that he had been assaulted, but no action was taken. He said he then left the club and approached a number of gardaí sitting in a patrol car who suggested he attend the Garda station yesterday. He said he went to the Garda station yesterday afternoon and was told it would be best to return last night, as the patrol gardaí would be back on duty.
“I think and feel like I have no rights in this so-called civilised world, when I am putting my heart and soul into my work and serving this nation. I was on call working 24 hours serving this nation on Christmas Day.”
Dr Bukhari, whose contract with the HSE lasts until July 2013, said he had planned to return to Pakistan at the end of this month to make arrangements to bring his family here. He said this was now in doubt as he did not want his family to suffer racial abuse.
Dr Bukhari said the incident in the night club was not the first time racial abuse had been directed at him, and he was determined to bring a formal complaint. The Garda Press Office was unable to confirm the incident last night. A spokesman said no official complaint had yet been filed.
