"Racism Is Ugly": Irish-Pakistani Doctor Recounts Abuse by Children in Ireland

Irish-Pakistani Doctor Recounts Abuse by Children in Ireland

In a disturbing reminder of the persistence of racism in modern society, Dr. Taimoor Salman — a medical registrar at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda — has spoken out after being racially abused by a group of children outside a shopping centre in Navan, Ireland.

The shocking incident unfolded last Thursday evening as Dr. Salman was leaving Blackcastle Shopping Centre. As he approached his car, a young boy, no older than 10, cycled in front of him and shouted, “Mr Curry Man” in what Dr. Salman described as a “broken Indian accent.”

But the harassment didn’t stop there.

“An older boy, maybe a young teen, came up and asked me if I had said something,” Dr. Salman recounted. “I told him his friend had been rude. He told me to shut up and began doing impersonations of Apu — the Indian shopkeeper from The Simpsons.”

Stunned and deeply disturbed, Dr. Salman chose to walk away rather than escalate the situation.

“There Seems To Be a Pack Mentality”

Dr. Salman, who was born in Ireland to Pakistani parents, has had a long-standing relationship with the town of Navan. He fondly recalls his childhood there and had moved back in 2017 with his wife and young daughter, hoping to raise his family in a safe and inclusive environment.

“I lived in Navan and went to primary school here. I never experienced any racism as a child. That’s part of the reason I came back. But this recent wave of open, brash hatred — especially from children — is heartbreaking.”

He described the incident as part of a growing trend of hostility that he says wasn’t present just a few years ago.

“Ireland was peaceful in 2017. Now, it feels unsafe. I only go to crowded places, never alone, and always alert. That’s not the Ireland I remember.”

A Reflection of a Larger Problem

This incident is not isolated. Recent months have seen a rise in racially motivated incidents across Ireland. Just weeks ago, an Indian cab driver was attacked with a bottle and told to “go back to your own country.”

Dr. Salman believes such attitudes reflect dangerous misinformation and fear.

“There is no invasion happening in this country. This is everyone’s home. Racism is ugly, and it shouldn't be accepted or tolerated — by anyone, of any age.”

The Need for Urgent Conversations

This event raises critical questions: How are children being exposed to such prejudices? What societal shifts are enabling these behaviors? And what role can communities, schools, and parents play in fostering respect and inclusivity?

If nothing else, Dr. Salman’s experience reminds us that no matter how “integrated” or “peaceful” a society may appear, bias can rear its head in the most unexpected and hurtful ways — even from children.