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Call for closure of some pubs after violent racist attack, The Examiner - 2nd
May 2000
by Seán McCárthaigh
CALLS have been made for increased policing and the closure of some public
houses following a violent racist attack in inner city Dublin on Sunday
night. Tension has mounted in the local community after windows in a Nigerian
owned shop on Parnell Street were smashed when a vicious row developed
between a group of white and black people.
About 60 people were involved in the violent fracas, which led to gardaí
closing off the street outside Infinity Ventures, a combined grocery store
and hairdressing salon. The incident, which lasted around 15 minutes, is
believed to have started when a man shouted racist remarks at a black
motorist sitting in a car outside the shop.
The man then crossed the road and went inside the Blue Lion pub. He emerged a
few minutes later accompanied by a few other men who began to throw bottles
and glasses at the shopfront. Pool cues were also used to smash the large
glass windows in the store. During the attack, female shop assistant, Destiny
Warrior, was pushed and jostled, while there were unconfirmed reports that
another Nigerian suffered a broken arm. Some of the attackers then ran back
across the road into the Blue Lion. After gardaí managed to restore order,
officers requested the bar owner to close the premises. While no arrests were
made, gardaí confirmed that a follow up investigation was continuing.
Local resident Senator David Norris expressed alarm at the incident yesterday
and called for improved community relations to defuse tension. In particular,
he recommended the closure of several, unnamed pubs which, he claimed, were
responsible for much of the anti social behaviour around Parnell Street.
"It's amazing how some pubs ever get their licences renewed," he said.
Senator Norris said he was appalled and disgusted by Sunday night's events.
"It seems clear that the motivation for this is pure racism," he added. He
also called for a more visible garda presence and increased foot patrols in
the area.
Shop owner, Kola Ojewale, a Nigerian who has lived in Ireland for the past
three years, said he was very saddened by the incident. He said the attack
had led him to question his future in Ireland. "I'm beginning to wonder if
the best thing to do is to close the shop for the safety of my wife and
children," said Mr Ojewale. Gabriel Okenla of the Pan African Organisation
said black people in the area had received a number of threats in recent
months. However, he pointed out that this was the first serious racist attack
on property. Speaking during a march by the Dublin Council of Trade Unions to
celebrate May Day in Dublin, Mr Okenla urged people to adopt a positive
outlook as Ireland moved towards a multicultural society. "Our aim is to
demonstrate that we have nothing to fear from each other but a lot to learn,
and that the aspiration of refugees is to find a new life and home in peace
and prosperity" said Mr Okenla.
Meanwhile, public service union, Impact, has criticised figures which show
that only one designated social worker has been allocated to deal with over
110 unaccompanied refugee children.
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