Bishop Leahy said it is shameful for Irish people to be hearing about attacks on Indian/South Asian community

Sunday 17 August 2025:  Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy has said that the recent and shameful attacks on the Indian community is a dreadful misrepresentation of the true Irish welcome that should and is laid before them.

Addressing a weekend Syro-Malabar Community annual retreat which saw hundreds of members of the community travel to Limerick from all over Ireland, Bishop Leahy said that true Ireland has nothing but admiration for the contribution to our society by Indian people living here. 

Bishop Leahy also expressed his admiration for how the Syro-Malabar Community commits to prayer and each other at the gathering.

“I have been coming here each year for many years now to meet with you,” he told the gathering at Limerick Racecourse.

“I always admire your wonderful commitment to gathering together for a time of prayer and reflection, supporting and encouraging one another in the company of your beautiful families and friends. And there are always so many of you.

“As I have mentioned each year I’ve met you, the people in Ireland cannot but be grateful to you for the many ways you are gently but efficiently and compassionately present in healthcare and the hospitality industry, in the IT, engineering and financial services as well as in many other walks of life and work in Ireland.

“Your self-effacing demeanour is in such stark contrast with the horrible deeds of those engaged in recent incidents of unprovoked attacks and violence against people from India and South Asia more generally.”

“It is shameful for native Irish to hear members of the Indian community say they are too scared to go out. People may be entitled to varying views about migrants and our social policies in Ireland but nothing excuses boorish behaviour. And every effort must be made to ensure that young people do not pick up nefarious attitudes towards migrants in this country.”

Bishop Leahy said there is a rule of conduct written in every heart – treat your neighbour as yourself. “No matter who we are or where we come from, that is the criterion that must dominate all our relationships. That is the Golden Rule that we must all adhere to in our speech and in our social media interactions as well as in daily encounters.

“May Irish people discover more deeply what this Golden Rule means for us. It’s written into our spiritual DNA. If we forget it, we create havoc,” he added.

Ends