Doras calls for strong leadership as racist attacks rise across Ireland

Doras, a leading migrant and refugee support organisation, is calling for urgent government action in response to a growing number of racist attacks and hate crimes across Ireland. The organisation welcomed Tánaiste Simon Harris’s condemnation of recent violent assaults on the Indian community but warned that these incidents are part of a broader and escalating trend of racially motivated harassment and violence.  

“Our thoughts are with those in the Indian community who have suffered violent attacks recently,” said John Lannon, CEO of Doras. “Unfortunately, people from the Indian community are not the only ones being harassed and assaulted on our streets. We are seeing a significant rise in the number of racist incidents and hate crimes reported to our victim support service. And sadly, we are also hearing from people who are now more fearful of going out on the streets. This fear is new and deeply disturbing in Ireland.” 

Doras supports migrant victims of racism and hate crimes nationwide, and is reporting increased cases of verbal abuse, physical assaults and racially motivated harassment in public spaces. 

“The majority of people in Ireland are welcoming of others regardless of where they come from,” said Lannon. “But a small, vocal minority is spreading hate, and it’s undermining community safety and social cohesion for everyone.” 

Call for accountability and leadership 

Doras is urging political leaders to take a stronger stance against racism, in particular confronting harmful discourse and pushing for full implementation of national anti-racism strategies. 

“Every individual and organisation has a responsibility to address racism and the spread of hate, particularly if they are in a position of leadership. Politicians in particular have a responsibility to avoid stoking anti-migrant rhetoric. Repeatedly questioning the rights of people who have come to Ireland to seek international protection, or for other reasons, has harmful consequences for individuals and communities. It can embolden some people to harass or attack others based on their perceived race or ethnicity.” 

The organisation is also calling on public bodies to fully implement their obligations under the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty, and to ensure anti-racism is embedded across all policies and practices. 

Online hate and the role of social media platforms 

Doras is also denouncing the role of social media algorithms in fuelling racism, misinformation, and far-right narratives online. 

“While policing remains a critical component of the fight against the spread of hate, social media companies have much to answer for in relation to the spread of hate on their platforms,” said Lannon. “Their recommender system pushes toxic content into people’s feeds and needs to be switched off.” 

The organisation is urging EU Commissioner Micheal McGrath to use the forthcoming Democracy Shield legislation to force social media companies to dismantle the recommender system that promotes hate and disinformation. 

Not just violence: the everyday toll of racism 

Beyond physical attacks, Doras highlighted the ongoing impact of everyday racism, including discriminatory comments, exclusion, and racial slurs, especially on children and young people.   “For both adults and children, comments made directly to them, overheard, or seen in print, can be quite traumatic,” said Lannon. 

Doras is calling on the Irish Government to: 

• Fully enforce the Hate Offences Act 2024, which provides for increased sentences for offenses aggravated by hatred based on characteristics like race, religion, sexual orientation, and other protected characteristics.
• Update the Prohibition to Incitement to Hatred Act to reflect the realities of online hate speech.
• Deliver comprehensive support for victims.
• Ensure full implementation of the National Action Plan Against Racism, to strengthen protections from racist incidents and crimes, and to make it easier for people experiencing racism to access effective remedies.