Sheehan condemns arson attack on Limerick Islamic Centre
Sheehan condemns arson attack on Limerick Islamic Centre - The Labour Party
Labour TD for Limerick Conor Sheehan has condemned an arson attack on the Islamic Cultural Centre in County Limerick, following a fire at the centre in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Deputy Sheehan said:
“This was an absolutely disgraceful and abhorrent attack on a community that is part of the fabric of Limerick. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. I am urging anyone who has any information to go to An Garda Siochana. There must be clear consequences for acts of racist violence.
“The people who attend the Islamic Cultural Centre in Limerick are workers, parents, students and neighbours. They contribute to our city and our county every day. An attack on them is an attack on the idea that Limerick is a welcoming and safe place for everyone. We cannot shrug this off or downplay it. We need to confront it directly and honestly.
“This attack also exposes a deeper failure by Government to get serious about tackling hate crime. The fact of the matter is that our laws around incitement to hatred are not strong enough. They lag behind the reality of what communities are experiencing on the ground. We need robust legislation that gives Gardaí real tools to intervene earlier and that sends a clear message that racism and hate have no place in our society.
“Alongside stronger laws, we also need political leadership. Government must come forward with a proper public awareness campaign on migration and integration and make the positive case for migration. Migration has enriched our communities, strengthened our economy and supported our public services. Leaving a vacuum allows fear and falsehoods to take hold, and that is dangerous.
“I want to be clear that leadership matters. The rhetoric coming from the Minister for Justice and from the Tánaiste in recent months has not helped. Government needs to dial down its own language and start setting a responsible, factual and humane tone.”