Outrage at racist graffiti at roadside
Evening Herald
Racist graffiti near the M1 motorway.
Anti-racism campaigners have called for the removal of a truck daubed with an offensive slogan within view of one of Ireland's busiest motorways.
The racist graffiti has been condemned as an "incitement to hatred".
The articulated lorry has been parked by the roadside just north of Swords. Gardai have said they have been made aware of the truck and are looking into the incident.
The Residents Against Racism group has voiced its outrage over the hate-filled slogan. But it has warned that there are signs that racist stunts like this are increasing.
Pathetic
Spokeswoman Rosanna Flynn said: "Can you imagine sick people going to all that trouble? It's pathetic.
"We utterly condemn this. It's an incitement to hatred and it has to be removed and investigated -- presumably someone owns the land.
"It's totally incorrect anyway. Let's face it, the Celtic Tiger would never have happened without migrant workers coming here to do the jobs that Irish people didn't want to do.
"There wouldn't have been a boom without them."
Ms Flynn said immigration and the recession were unconnected matters. She said: "It's a worldwide recession that has been made worse in this country by the irresponsibility of the banks and Government negligence.
"It's quite obviously not the fault of immigrants and nobody with half a brain should take that slogan seriously.
Threatened
"There is an absolute lunatic fringe of racists out there betraying their ignorance with this kind of carry on.
"Luckily, it's a pathetically small number of racists, but they have been active for years, even while Ireland was doing extremely well."
Ms Flynn added: "There is a danger this type of thing is on the increase".
Two weeks ago, racists threatened to kill an immigrant election candidate as he was campaigning in the north of the city.
Patrick Maphoso has said he will not be deterred after a man ordered him to leave his street and threatened to "put a bullet in his head".
Mr Maphoso, who is originally from South Africa, said it was the first racist attack he had encountered in two months on the campaign trail.
The incident happened at Dublin's North Circular Road.
aphelan@herald.ie
- Andrew Phelan
