Woman and family driven out by ‘blacks out’ graffiti on house

Woman and family driven out by ‘blacks out’ graffiti on house

By Lynda O'Donoghue Donnelly

clonA WOMAN who had the words “blacks out” painted across the front of her home while her children slept has said she will never return to the area.

The woman, who did not want to be identified, told The Echo that she found the event very traumatic and even moved her children to Donegal to escape the racism.
The incident came just weeks after a local volunteer was beaten by two men in broad daylight in Clondalkin village in what he believes was a racially motivated attack.

The woman was forced to leave her home in Clondalkin after the vile words were spray-painted across her front window and door last Wednesday and her tyres were slashed on three separate occasions.
She said: “We won’t return to that house, I am just not comfortable there and I don’t think this person or people will stop. Last week I didn’t know where to go and I got no help.
“For anyone in this sort of situation I would say go to your councillors and TDs in the locality so they can come and see what is happening. If it wasn’t for people like Gino [Kenny] then no-one would know about this racism.”
People Before Profit councillor Gino Kenny, along with neighbours and friends of the woman, went to her home on Tuesday to clean the graffiti off the window.
Cllr Kenny said: “This is clearly a grotesque level of intimidation to drive the family out of the locality. The family that has been targeted has been living in the estate for the past six years. The family is a very quiet family and has a very good relationship with neighbours.”
A solidarity protest was also staged last Saturday afternoon with people from across Clondalkin condemning the attack.
The lady who lived in the home with her two children was very moved by the support she has so far received.
She said: “It has really shown how much the people there like us and that really means a lot to us.”
Richard Costello of the South West Clondalkin Community Safety Forum was part of the group that helped to clear away the graffiti.
He said: “There have been a number of issues locally and it is something that concerns us. It is a primarily mixed ethnic and racial profile and we are seeing incidents there over the last year.”
Gardai are currently investigating the issue and a spokesman said: “Gardai are investigating this incident and are appealing for information. [There have been] no arrests at this time.”

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