A horrifying case in Ireland has brought to light growing concerns over hate crimes and the handling of such incidents by law enforcement. Six-year-old Nia Naveen, a child of Indian origin, was violently punched in the face and subjected to a racial slur—called a “dirty Indian”—while playing in front of her family home. Her parents, Anupa Achuthan and Naveen, both Irish citizens who have lived in the country for nearly eight years, recounted the traumatic experience in an exclusive interview.
The assault, carried out by a group of teenagers, left the young girl deeply shaken. According to her mother, the incident terrified not just Nia but the entire family. “It was such a frightening experience. She was playing right outside our house, and then this happened. For two days, she wouldn’t even step outside,” Anupa explained. The emotional impact remains heavy on the parents, who are also caring for a 10-month-old child.
What has shocked the family most, however, is the initial response from Irish police. Despite promptly reporting the incident, the parents said officers refused to register it as an official case at first. It was only after they went to the police station the following day that authorities agreed to record it formally. This delay, they argue, reflects a troubling gap in how racist violence is addressed.
Anupa believes Ireland’s teenage protection laws are enabling such attacks. She explained that groups of teenage boys appear to commit these assaults knowing they will likely face neither arrest nor punishment due to the leniency of the law. “They are well aware that even if something happens, they won’t be arrested or punished,” she said.
The family notes that the Ireland they moved to years ago feels different now. While they stress that Irish society as a whole is not racist—pointing to the support they’ve received from friends and colleagues—Anupa says there has been a noticeable rise in racially motivated incidents over the past year. She cited other recent attacks on members of the Indian community, including a brutal assault on a man known as “Thala” by another teenage gang.
Perhaps even more alarming is the fact that many such incidents go unreported or unregistered. Anupa revealed that after her daughter’s case became public, she received messages from others in minority communities who had faced similar attacks but saw no official action taken.
In the aftermath, there has been some healing. With encouragement from friends and neighbours, Nia has started playing outside again. Her peers have rallied around her, visiting her home and engaging her in play, helping her regain some confidence.
Still, her parents are calling for legislative reform, urging the Irish government to address loopholes in teenage protection laws that, in their view, embolden young perpetrators. “This is not just about our daughter. The government needs to take action because this is not an isolated case,” Anupa insisted.
The incident raises pressing questions about the adequacy of Ireland’s hate crime legislation, the responsiveness of police, and the safety of minority communities in an evolving social climate.
