MIGRANTS HAVE been assaulted, urinated on and forced to leave their homes, a study about racism in Irish society has found.
The research by the Immigrant Council of Ireland found racism was a part of everyday life for migrants in workplaces, streets and communities.
The council called for sentencing guidelines to be introduced covering racially motivated crimes in order to distinguish between racist offences and others.
The report points to a “leadership vacuum” in institutional responses to racism since the closure in 2008 of the State anti-racism body, The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism.
“This report illustrates very starkly the price being paid for our lack of consistent, effective and strong action against racism,” the council’s chief executive, Denise Charlton, said.
African bus drivers, Luas workers and Asian health workers living in Ireland for six to 10 years made up the 24 migrants interviewed for the research.
Racial harassment involving minors and children was a “serious problem” for some participants, and most incidents were perpetrated by groups, the research found. One Dublin Bus driver recounted being abused by a group of young people using racist language and refusing to pay.
After they paid and went upstairs, some of them began to urinate on him through the ceiling.
Migrants also felt more unsafe in Ireland than in other countries.
One Luas inspector of Asian origin who grew up in the UK experienced racist abuse four or five times a day and was assaulted seven times since 2004.
She had never experienced racism in the UK in the way that she had in Dublin, she told researchers.
Some victims living in a racially harassed environment waited years for an offer of alternative accommodation from their local authority, the report noted.
One family from Africa left their home after attacks including eggs being thrown at their door, their car being vandalised and racial bullying of young children.
