Indian students victims of alleged rope attacks by local youths

CO CORK, Ireland – Foreign students in Cork are concerned for their safety after two Indian students studying at UCC were allegedly grabbed by youths in the city centre last Saturday.

Dr Lekha Margassery, head of the UCC Indian Alumni Community, has called for increased action in Cork city centre following what she believes were racially motivated attacks.

Dr Margassery said a student was talking on the phone with another person near Carroll's gift shop on Patrick Street around 5.30pm last Saturday when a rope was placed around his neck.

“Suddenly, a person threw a plastic rope around his neck and tried to strangle him. The student ripped off the rope and ran away,” she explained.

“He crossed the street and took a photo of the entire gang of teenagers.”

Dr Margassery claims that within half an hour a second incident involving the same group of youths occurred in the Adelaide Street and North Main Street area.

“These two students are here to do their master’s degrees,” she said.

“They are a man and a woman. And the same guy tied a rope around the man's neck. He immediately took it off. And a teenager who appeared to be ten years old (along with the teenagers) was laughing like it was a joke.”

“It's frightening because this could happen to anyone. About three weeks ago I heard some students strolling through Paul Street Shopping Centre in Cork,” said Dr Margassery.

“They were surrounded by four people who mistreated them and told them to return to their country,” she explained.

“This shocks me. I have been here since 2008 and only found out about this in the last six months.”

Dr Margassery said students were terrified to leave the UCC campus.

The first student filed an official complaint with the Garda.

The Garda were informed of the second incident and the student subsequently decided not to lodge a formal complaint.

Garda confirmed receipt of a report of an alleged assault in St Patrick's Street, Cork last Saturday afternoon and said they were investigating the cases.