Ó Ríordáin: “Racism and division, not concern for victims, behind Citywest riots”
Ó Ríordáin: "Racism and division, not concern for victims, behind Citywest riots" - The Labour Party
Labour Party Spokesperson for Dublin and MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin expressed his horror at the reports of a sexual assault on a young child and condemned the subsequent violence in City West, accusing rioters of having no real concern for women and children.
“All our thoughts are with the ten-year old child at the centre of this case and her family. The report of a child being the victim of a very serious sexual assault is horrific. It’s vitally important nothing should be said or done which could hinder the ability of the Gardaí and the courts to do their jobs. Sexual violence against women and children is far too common. But none of the protests last night were really concerned about protecting women or children. The protests had nothing to do with justice. Protesters laid siege to an accommodation centre, terrifying families including women and children, who had nothing to do with any sexual violence.
“Rioters firing rockets and missiles injuring Gardaí and burning out a Garda vehicle, were more concerned with spreading racism, division and hate than protecting anyone. It is legitimate to ask questions about our immigration system. It is not legitimate to terrorise innocent people who have nothing to do with any crime, it’s cowardly and shameful. It’s not acceptable to use the victims of sexual assault as an excuse to riot or spread fascist hatred, it’s cynical and ignorant. People should know that as the Gardaí have said, there is no evidence to link asylum seekers and increased crime or types of crime.
“This morning, I met the Minister for Migration, Colm Brophy, I called on him once again, to produce a public awareness campaign on the facts about our migration system and our asylum system. I believe it’s important that people have access to those facts and the facts about our criminal justice system. We cannot descend into the types of violence we saw last night. It is not what we are or what we want to be as Dubliners and as Irish people. We are so much better that.”