DCAR Statement: Ireland is being destabilised in run up to elections

Far Right candidates are deliberately heightening tensions to build profile

The increased violence of anti-immigrant thugs as witnessed in Newtownmountkennedy last night, coupled with the increasingly inflammatory rhetoric and on-line agitation of those inciting them, is designed to provoke fear, insecurity, turmoil and division in our communities and broader society in the run up to the local and European elections.

Dublin Communities Against Racism (DCAR)  unreservedly condemns last night’s violence and draws attention to the fact that numerous far-right agitators, who are also election candidates, have been present in the area. 

In the first place it is the Irish government which created the conditions for the rise of far right elements through its failures on housing and other substantial issues but which has slyly worked to divert blame from itself and onto the most unfortunate people in society. 

We appreciate that decent people may have concerns, whether due to the lack of consultation or lack of local services and amenities, but we would appeal to everyone to disassociate from the travelling thuggish, criminal elements bent on intimidation and violence and their racist narratives of “plantations”, “criminals and rapists” etc. 

Joe Mooney (DCAR) said today 

“We appeal in particular to young people in working class communities not to be inflamed by their rhetoric, it is you who will end up in jail for years when some unfortunate immigrant is beaten to death, while the agitators fill their bank accounts through foreign donations and Go-Fund me scams”

Helena McCann (DCAR) added

“The Garda Siochana, for their part, have allowed far right thugs, often with criminal backgrounds, free rein to disrupt, threaten and abuse for eighteen months now, emboldening them at every step to the extent that they now feel entirely free to intimidate, burn and assault at will.”

As we approach the local authority and European Parliament elections in June,  the far right agitators and professional racists will continue to promote fear and insecurity to help keep their profiles high. We condemn this deliberate manipulation of our communities and broader society for political ends.

We strongly condemn the violence in Newtownmountkennedy last night and in particular the vicious intimidation of the ordinary working men at that site.