Customs staff sacked in race probe

Seven Revenue and Customs staff have been sacked for racially abusing non-nationals who claimed child benefit, it has been revealed.

Two others quit when an investigation was launched earlier this year. All nine were based at an HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) contact centre in Belfast.

It is understood they were accused of tampering with computer records, which meant a number of people from ethnic minority backgrounds living in various parts of the UK were paid less money than they were entitled to. All have now been fully imbursed.

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/customs-staff-sacked-in-race-probe-2301540.html

Garda issue warning over online racism

THE GARDA have warned people who set up pages inciting racism on online social networks that they are open to prosecution, and even people who join these sites could face charges.

Sgt David McInerney of the Garda Racial and Intercultural Office said site hosts like Facebook were also “open to prosecution” if there was a valid complaint about racist online material.

“It is only a matter of time before a prosecution is brought,” he said.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0816/1224276886822.html

Gardaí deny racial abuse

GARDAÍ HAVE denied claims they racially abused and assaulted a Nigerian-born Irish citizen who alleged he was singled out at a checkpoint because he was black.

Sunny Akpabot (42), formerly of St Ronan’s Green, Clondalkin, Dublin, now living in Coventry, UK, has brought a High Court action for damages against the Minister for Justice.

He claims he was assaulted, falsely arrested and unlawfully detained on January 9th, 2002 at Belgard Square North, Tallaght, Dublin. He also claims he was subject to racist and intimidating taunts at the checkpoint and in a squad car on his way to Tallaght Garda station after the incident.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0710/1224274418840.html

Support service for people subjected to racism

REPORTS of violent racist acts and verbal abuse towards immigrants has led the Immigrant Council of Ireland to set up a pilot service for people who have experienced or witnessed racist incidents.

The Racist Incidents Support and Referral Service will provide information and support, including referrals to counselling services where appropriate, as well as recording data and reporting on trends and advocate for legislative and policy change where necessary.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/support-service-for-people-subjected-to-racism-124219.html#ixzz0tgA32ZMN

Migrant young people bullied in schools

NEW research has warned of the "potential for conflict" between immigrant and native Irish children as young foreign people in Ireland battle with language barriers.

Migrant children are experiencing racism and bullying and even more aggressive attitudes and actions, according to research by the Trinity Immigration Initiative. Multiple studies from the college also looked at how migrants were coping with work, integration as well as the courts.

Read more: http://irishexaminer.com/ireland/study-migrant-young-people-bullied-in-schools-123882.html#ixzz0sT6mEgLC

Migrant workers suffering "overt racism" from within the system

MIGRANT workers who become homeless experience "overt racism" from within the system and are not being provided with sufficient translation services, according to a homeless charity.

Crosscare officer Wayne Stanley said migrant workers were facing discrimination and being told they are not entitled to any welfare payments when they might be, and in some cases people have not been provided with translation services and so were not fully aware of what was required.

He said latest figures from the charity’s Amien Street service showed that more than 30% of new clients presenting in the first four months of this year were not Irish.

http://irishexaminer.com/ireland/migrant-workers-unaware-of-rights-123702.html#ixzz0sGZnDcmg

Warning recession may raise racist tensions

IRELAND’S FALL into recession could lead to more tensions between immigrants and the native Irish population, the Irish committee of the European Cultural Foundation has warned.

Its chairwoman, Mary Canning, said instances of deaths associated with racism were not common but “there is a worry that perhaps there could be more issues of tension, particularly at local level”.

“People are in danger of becoming ghettoised, either in their housing or in their access to education or to health services.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0624/1224273185893.html

Traders back shop owner in racism row

TRADERS have backed a shop owner who has been accused of racism after displaying photographs of Romany gypsies in her store following a spate of shoplifting

Joan Lucey, the owner of independent Cork-based book store chain, Vibes & Scribes, denied she was being racist and said she felt she had no other option.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/traders-back-shop-owner-in-racism-row-119460.html#ixzz0nekQaSic

Nigerians death being used as excuse to promote interculturalism

PROMOTING integration in the community where tragic teenager Toyosi Shittabey was knifed to death will be the best tribute to the slain schoolboy, councillors have said.

Fingal County Council is to convene a meeting in Tyrrelstown to discuss the provision of better facilities "to assist interculturalism and a cohesive community".

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/councils-aim-to-unite-community-where-toyosi-lived-2135682.html

Integration statistics not being collected

THERE is no formal agency collecting information, research or statistics in relation to racism and integration.

Since the disbanding of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI), which carried out extensive research and acted as a bridge between communities and policy makers, there has been no coherent direction on integration policy from the government.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/integration-statistics-not-being-collected-116910.html#ixzz0kiokoABJ

Minister to review laws dealing with racism

The Green Party minister yesterday called for calm as mourners attended the funeral of 15-year-old Nigerian Toyosi Shitta-bey.

Speaking outside the funeral home in Lucan yesterday, Ms White said: "It is important that people who come to live here and come from different ethnic backgrounds can be treated with respect and full integration that all the Irish Government can offer.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/minister-to-review-laws-dealing-with-racism-116789.html#ixzz0kdhmR50Z

An Post takes action over racist e-mail

AN POST has confirmed that it has begun disciplinary proceedings against a number of employees after a racist e-mail was circulated within the company.

The e-mail stated: “If you cross the North Korean border illegally, you get 12 years hard labour. If you cross the Iranian border illegally, you are detained indefinitely. If you cross the Afghan border, you’re shot. Saudi Arabian border you’ll get jailed. All sorts of terrible things will happen to you if you cross almost every other border except the Irish border.”

“If you cross the Irish border illegally you get a job, a driver’s licence, social insurance card, money from the social security, food stamps, credit cards, subsidised rent or a loan to buy a house, free education and free healthcare.”

Comparing the asylum system to a game show, it noted: “We’ve already given away hundreds of millions of euros . . . courtesy of the sponsor, the Irish taxpayer.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0313/1224266197979.html

Irish far right groups remain on the margins of political life

Although those charged in connection with the string of attacks and the distribution of racist leaflets – which allegedly originated with the British Combat 18 far right group – have been teenagers, the campaign is believed to have been supported by former Loyalist paramilitaries.

Racist incidents in Europe and Britain are often connected to far right groups and their more respectable political organisations have undoubtedly in recent years been making electoral gains. No openly racist or fascistic organisation has garnered serious electoral support in either part of Ireland, however.

The only exception is Ailtiri na hAiseirghe, which won nine seats in the June 1945 elections in the Republic. But in recent years, the country’s changing social make-up has seen right-wing anti-immigrant elements attempting to take political advantage.

Former Northern Irish IRA prisoner, Gerry McGeough, attempted to politically organise around anti-immigrant sentiment in conjunction with former Youth Defence leader, Justin Barrett.

http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/irish-far-right-groups-remain-on-the-margins-of-political-life-109464.html#ixzz0cQYhDcWF

Gardaí accused of racial discrimination

GARDAÍ have been accused of racial discrimination following the release of EU research which found Sub-Saharan Africans are twice as likely to be subjected to police stops than other members of the public.

The European Union Minorities and Discrimination Survey found in a 12-month period 59% of Africans surveyed had been stopped at least once by gardaí. One in three eastern Europeans were stopped at least once in the same period. More than 1,000 Sub-Saharan Africans and eastern Europeans were surveyed.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/gardai-accused-of-racial-discrimination-109427.html#ixzz0cKCwZRST

Ireland ‘among worst’ for racism

IRELAND ranks among the worst countries in Europe in terms of discrimination against ethnic minorities from sub-Saharan Africa, a European report has revealed.

The Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) surveyed more than 23,000 people from ethnic minority and immigrant groups about their experiences of discrimination, racist crime, and policing in the EU. Members of the Roma people said they suffered more discrimination across the whole of Europe, but in Ireland sub-Saharan Africans were more likely to be discriminated against.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/ireland-among-worst-for-racism-107510.html#ixzz0ZJkpBPLr

Warning of rise in racism

IRISH ATTITUDES towards immigrants are hardening as people search for someone to blame for their worsening economic situation, a leading NGO has warned.

Crosscare Migrant Project, which provides information to migrants, has also appealed to the Government to maintain funding for projects to assist immigrants to integrate into Irish life.

Conor Hickey, director of the Crosscare Migrant Project, said yesterday people “rolled out the red carpet for migrants” willing to do the jobs they were not willing to do a few years ago. This carpet is being “rolled back” against a backdrop of rising unemployment and the threat of racism, he said.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1126/1224259488680.html

Defence Forces probe over Nazi salutes on Bebo

THE military authorities have launched an investigation after members of the Defence Forces were shown giving Nazi salutes and posting racist comments on a social networking site.

At least two reserve Defence Force members based in Dublin are under investigation. A spokes-woman for the Minster for Defence Willie O’Dea confirmed the "review" was ongoing and the investigation was expected to be completed by the end of the week.

"There was an investigation at unit level and there was no disciplinary action taken at that level. However, the matter is now with the chief of staff’s office and that investigation is ongoing.

In one image a Defence Force recruit is seen next to a statue of a German eagle clutching a swastika. The young man is wearing a German iron cross buckle on his belt. Another image shows the soldier superimposed beside Ku Klux Klan members.

http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/defence-forces-probe-over-nazi-salutes-on-bebo-102131.html#ixzz0SWMEIcV6

Loyalists threaten ethnic minorities in North

Ethnic minorities have been issued with a chilling threat to get out of the North from young loyalists, it was revealed tonight.

A note to community organisations last week stated: “No sympathy for foreigners, get out of our Queen’s country before our bonfire night (July 11) and parade day (July 12). Other than that your building will be blown up.

“Keep Northern Ireland white. Northern Ireland is only for white British."

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/loyalists-threaten-ethnic-minorities-in-north-418065.html#ixzz0Ko3XGSdd&C

30% rise in racist abuse against foreigners

IRELAND is one of only five EU countries where an increase in racist crimes was reported, according to the EU Fundamental Rights Agency.

There was a close to 30% increase in the abuse, discrimination and crime suffered by foreign nationals, the agency’s annual report noted.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/30-rise-in-racist-abuse-against-foreigners-94891.html

Romanian Gypsies attacked

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — The thugs used bricks and bottles to drive more than 100 Romanian Gypsies from their homes in a wave of attacks. On Wednesday, the victims were sheltering in a community center after a church plucked them off a Belfast street.

The grim images from this week — families carrying possessions in bundled blankets, a mother clutching her 5-day-old baby — are more evidence of rising anti-immigrant sentiment across Europe, but also of a situation unique to Northern Ireland: new fault lines in its tragic history of ethnic divisions.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iDji7_Kp0M1B_ADrZ0T9-dBi-xpwD98SI4HG0