Racist attacks terrorise Clondalkin family

THE “vindictive” and sustained attacks on a non-national family in Clondalkin, which included a petrol bomb attack on their house, have shocked a councillor who visited with them on December 3.Following up upon a query he raised with South Dublin County Council’s Joint Policing Committee, People Before Profit Cllr Gino Kenny spoke to the family who have been harassed for over six months.He said: “When I was out canvassing before the elections in the Summer, I came across two cases and, with one case in particular, I was shocked by how bad it was. It was very vindictive and carried out just because of (the colour of their skin).”They had windows smashed, someone tried to burn out their car and a petrol bomb was thrown through a window and left the carpet burned. It was lucky that no-one was seriously harmed.  Cllr Kenny added: “I dropped by on Thursday and the family were still shaken. By all accounts the attacks have not stopped.”The attacks were reported to the gardaí and are one of seven reported instances of racially motivated criminal damage to homes of ‘minority groups’ in South West Dublin this year.  A similar incident occurred in June of this year when a Congolese family were relocated to another house in South Dublin by the council from the Lindisfarne area, where they had been subject to damage to their home and car.Inspector McKenna from Clondalkin Garda Station says the first thing a person should do if they are the subject of a racially motivated attack is to contact the gardaí, followed by local representatives such as councillors and TDs.He said: “We can only act on such cases if they are reported; that is the most important thing.”Instances reported to us are low. If it was an issue in the area it would be something we would highlight.”Lyuba Moore from the Clondalkin Intercultural Centre explains that the centre runs a Garda Assistance Clinic for residents every second Thursday.  She said: “If there are any incidents (of attacks) people can come along to the clinics and talk to the gardaí in confidence.  Sometimes if people do not come forward it could be because of fear or because they are unaware of the clinics.”http://www.echo.ie/clondalkin/Families-terrified-after-spate-of.5892598.jpThe centre can be contacted at 457 7213 and Clondalkin Garda Station’s number is 666 7600.