Doctor Faces Racist Taunts Mimicking “Broken Indian Accent” Amid Surge in Attacks on South Asians in Ireland

Recent weeks have brought a disturbing surge in racially motivated incidents targeting individuals of South Asian origin across Ireland. The experiences include verbal abuse, physical assault, and acts of intimidation reported in multiple cities.

A medical registrar at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Dr. Taimoor Salman, said a group of children verbally abused him outside Blackcastle Shopping Centre. The children, some as young as ten, mimicked a “broken Indian accent” and impersonated Apu, a fictional character from The Simpsons. Dr. Salman described the behavior as shocking and symptomatic of a "pack mentality." He said he never expected such abuse from children and characterized the incident as insidious.

Dr. Taimoor Salman, a doctor of Pakistani origin, was born in Ireland. He attended primary school there before moving to the UK and later to Saudi Arabia. He was left shocked when a group of children, including one as young as 10 years old, directed racist remarks at him.

In Waterford, a six-year-old girl of Indian origin was assaulted while playing outside her home. According to authorities, a group of children punched her and struck her in the genital area with a bicycle wheel while shouting slurs such as “Go back to India” and “dirty Indian”. The girl's mother—an Indian-origin nurse and Irish citizen—reported that her daughter returned home visibly distressed and that the family no longer felt safe even in front of their home.

These incidents follow a pattern of recent violence: an Indian-origin entrepreneur in Dublin said a group of teenagers attacked him, fracturing his cheekbone and leaving him bleeding on the pavement. He described the assault as racially motivated. In Tallaght, a Dublin suburb, police are investigating multiple assaults on Indian men, some involving physical harm and racial slurs.

Officials have confirmed that investigations are underway in these cases, though no charges have been reported so far. The Indian embassy has issued safety advisories, and community organizations have urged authorities to strengthen measures against hate crimes.

These incidents reflect broader concerns over xenophobia and racism in Ireland. South Asians comprise an estimated 1–3% of Ireland’s population. Many of the individuals targeted are professionals—doctors, entrepreneurs, or healthcare workers—living and contributing to local communities.

As investigations continue, community leaders and human rights advocates emphasize the need for robust protection measures, education against hate, and enforcement of laws to ensure the safety and inclusion of residents irrespective of origin.

(Rh/Eth/NS/MSM/SE)