VOIWORLD
A 22-year-old Indian man living in Ireland has shared a disturbing account of being subjected to racist abuse by a group of teenagers while waiting at a bus stop. The young man narrated his ordeal on Reddit, highlighting not just the harassment but also the silence of bystanders, which left him feeling alienated.
Posting on the r/IndiansinIreland subreddit, the man explained that the incident took place after he left work and was waiting for a bus. A car filled with Irish teenagers drove past him and called him over. Believing they might be asking for directions, he approached the car. Instead, they hurled mocking comments at him.
“They called me ‘hey sweet cheeks’. I played along, matched their energy, and said thanks, really appreciated it,” he wrote. However, the teens returned twice more. On the second encounter, they sarcastically called him “handsome” and continued with other mocking remarks. Finally, on their third approach, the abuse escalated into racist slurs.
The man added that when he boarded his bus, the same group of boys was still around, likely waiting for another victim who would react to their taunts. “I try to be stoic about things and not let them get to me, but I didn’t decide to be born brown. There were two Irish people at the stop with me and another brown guy I don’t know, and nobody spoke up. We are on our own when push comes to shove,” he wrote.
Describing the incident as “disheartening and alienating,” he said that while he managed to stay calm, the experience left him feeling exposed to the harsh reality of racism that many immigrants face.
Social Media Reactions
The post quickly gained attention online, sparking widespread discussion. Many users expressed sympathy and apologized on behalf of the perpetrators.
“Start videoing these idiots with your smartphones. Including the polite, civilised Irish folks who would never harass Indians, but then do nothing when it’s happening in front of them,” one Reddit user advised.
Another Irish commenter wrote, “I’m Irish and am sorry this happened to you. Also, sorry that the Irish people who were there with you chose to do nothing.”
A third person said, “As an Irish person I am thoroughly ashamed that this is happening and seems to be getting worse. The majority of normal Irish people wouldn’t ever treat anyone this way.”
A Growing Concern
This is not the first time incidents of racism against Indians in Ireland have made headlines. Earlier this month, a shocking case emerged from Waterford City in southeast Ireland, where a six-year-old Indian-origin girl, Nia Naveen, was attacked by a group of children aged between 12 and 14.
According to her mother, Anupa Achuthan, the group hurled racist insults at Nia, calling her “dirty” and telling her to “go back to India.” The children allegedly went further, physically assaulting her by punching her in the face and neck, hitting her private parts with a bicycle, and pulling her hair.
Ms. Achuthan, a nurse originally from Kerala, has lived in Ireland for eight years with her husband and children. She recently obtained Irish citizenship and said that until the attack, the family had felt settled and welcomed in the country.
A Pattern of Racist Incidents
Both incidents point to a troubling pattern of racially motivated abuse targeting members of the Indian community in Ireland. While many Irish citizens have condemned such behaviour and called for greater accountability, victims often report that bystanders fail to intervene, leaving them feeling isolated.
For the young Indian man at the bus stop, the silence of others was just as painful as the slurs themselves. His words — “I didn’t decide to be born brown” — serve as a stark reminder of the challenges immigrants continue to face in societies that otherwise pride themselves on inclusivity.
