“‘Go Back to India’: Six‑Year‑Old Girl in Waterford Brutally Assaulted in Racist Attack”
In a harrowing incident that has shocked communities far beyond Waterford, a six‑year‑old girl of Indian origin was assaulted by a group of children in what is being treated as a racially motivated hate crime.
The assault occurred on the evening of Monday, August 4, in the Kilbarry area. The young victim, Nia Naveen, was playing outside her home with friends when the attack unfolded. Among the attackers were several boys aged between 12 and 14, along with an eight‑year‑old girl.
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Eyewitnesses report the attackers hurled racist slurs, including “Dirty Indian” and demands for her to “go back to India,” while physically assaulting her. Five of the boys allegedly punched her in the face, another pushed the wheel of a bicycle onto her private parts, and she also sustained a punch to the neck and hair twisting.
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Her mother, Anupa Achuthan, a nurse who recently obtained Irish citizenship after eight years in the country, had stepped inside briefly to feed her 10‑month‑old son. The girl returned a minute later, visibly traumatized—unable to speak, she was crying and deeply shaken.
“I feel so sad for her. I could not protect her. I never expected such an incident would happen,” said Achuthan, who is urging that the children be provided with counselling rather than face punitive measures. The family has filed a complaint with the Gardaí, but Achuthan emphasizes rehabilitation over retribution.
The incident isn’t isolated. It comes amid a rising wave of racist attacks targeting Indian‑origin individuals in Ireland. In recent weeks, several unprovoked assaults have been reported, including one on a taxi driver and another on a senior data scientist.
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The escalation has alarmed civic groups and community leaders. The Ireland India Council has written to Ireland’s Minister of Justice, Jim Callaghan, and Tánaiste Simon Harris, calling for urgent action, the formation of a dedicated hate crime task force, and legislation to hold guardians accountable for repeated youth violence.
This deeply troubling episode underscores the urgent need for societal introspection and systemic safeguards to protect vulnerable communities—and especially children—from the scourge of racism.
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