We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
A LEADING MEMBER of Ireland’s African community has said it is “about time to move on” from remarks on race by former Naas mayor Darren Scully.
Eric Yao, the head of the Africa Centre, said he was a “strong believer in forgiveness, and people make mistakes”. However, he added that he hoped the incident would be an opportunity for “some level of education”.
Scully sparked a furore earlier this week when he emailed radio station Classic Hits 4FM to say he would no longer represent “immigrants from African countries” in Naas, saying: “The majority of them I found to be very demanding and very quick to play the race card.” He then appeared on the radio reiterating his comments.
Scully later resigned and issued an apology, saying: “I realise now that my remarks were open to an interpretation that I did not intend.”
Speaking on the Late Show with Niall Boylan on Classic Hits 4FM last night, Yao said he had been “gobsmacked” by Scully’s comments. “I didn’t expect that it would come from someone at the level of a mayor,” he said. “It just stunned everybody.”
Hwever, Yao said he accepted Scully’s apology. “It’s an issue that has been dealt with, he’s apologised and acknowledged that he has caused offence,” Yao said.
I can understand the pressure he may be under as a local authority, as a councillor. But if he’s under pressure and people are being rude to him, it’s wrong to generalise it. The problem has been the fact that he has painted everybody with the same brush.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
“The majority of them I found to be very demanding and very quick to play the race card.”
Finally someone says it! It might be very un-PC to say this sort of thing but it is true of quite a lot of people who enter this country. Fair enough I wouldn’t say that the majority of non-nationals use the race card but i personally have come across it and I know of one person working in the HSE who told me that because she is a woman she has been shouted at and verbally abused because she would not do as a man demanded. In his culture woman did what men told them to do.
I treat everyone equally as we all have a right to a decent life and equality but the moment I hear “you are racist” it brings out the worst in me. Just because I might not be able to facilitate someone’s request doesn’t mean that I did it out of prejudice to their country of origin or their race.
Treat me with respect and I’ll treat you with respect.
You know of “one person in the HSE” who told you….
That’s hardly a representative sample Brian, is it?
Conor there are probably plenty more people like her but they are afraid to speak out because the will be jumped on by the anti-racist bullies. Ireland is so PC that if you express an opinion that goes against the mainstream you get branded as racist even though you may have a perfectly valid point. When there was loads of money in Ireland it was fashionable to be a bleeding heart let them all in sure we can afford it type. I advocated tighter controls to protect genuine asylum seekers and deal with economic migrants abusing the system quicker. But no I was a racist because I spoke up and said what had to be said.
Now when all the money is gone people as a whole are taking on a much more stern and I would say somewhat racist attitude to non-nationals!!!! WTF?
I totally agree with you Brian…well said !
“The majority of them I found to be very demanding and very quick to play the race card.” – Do you really think that this gives someone the right to make a sweeping, generalisation about a group of people? That is plain and simple racism.
There is nothing more pathetic than when a race-baiter protests his or her sense of hurt or victim-hood at the hands of this fabled “PC brigade”. There is a real sense of self pity there.
I was shocked by the mayor’s comments. But what is really worrying is the reaction of so many people. This man has become some sort of rallying point for racism.
By the way, anti-racist bullies is just a fantastic turn of phrase. I really enjoyed that one.
Glad you liked that turn of phrase Conor, it makes you think for a minute doesn’t it. Let me give you an example of what I mean. Pamela Izevbekhai, lets not go through the whole thing we all know what happened. Here was my stance at the time…
PI goes through the courts..deportation order..my position was she had a fair chance, she was ruled against so justice has been served. what was I ? Racist.
PI goes into hiding…my view was she should be arrested like an Irish person was and the court appointed order served….Racist.
PI again before the courts, false papers…my view immediate deportation. Racist.
etc etc etc
Finally she goes home after the real truth became known leaving behind a bill for €1,000,000, €370,000 of which to the tax payer which will never be recovered.
What am I now…….pathetic, race-baiter, a self pitying victim.
There really is now winning is there?
No, it made me laugh.
I don’t really know what point you are trying to make. In that case, she broke the law and was punished.
This time a racist comment was made against a section of the community, and people are defending it. And yes, there is no winning with that.
Funny Connor, there is a whole load of racist comments being made against Travellers in another article but I don’t see you defending this http://www.thejournal.ie/disappointment-expressed-over-taxi-drivers-knackers-comment-288988-Nov2011/ ethnic minority. I presume your’e too busy talking down to real racists.
Darren Scully new minister for law reform and equality
Almost as bad as having Michael McDowell in that position….oh hang on…..
In my opinion Scully was exactly right in his observations. Seriously when are people going to stop with this crap of thinking we can’t say anything about minority groups.
The problem was that he made a sweeping generalisation against any group of people, a section of the community. He would make a good mayor of the Muppet Show.
Darren is a good man from my experience in dealing with him on air and off air . He has raised an important debate with is inappropriate remarks on our show last week . I challenged his remarks at the time and questioned his intentions . He seemed frustrated in his dealings as a representative of the people who gave him a hard time and very irresponsibly made a wide sweeping statement referring to all 40,000 all Africans in ireland . There are huge cultural differences in Irish and African people and yes political correctness leads to frustration sometimes but it’s time we understand that idea that we as a nation can build an arc and send every African home , is thoughtless and hateful to say the least . So we need to move on and understand other cultures and they need to not only understand ours but accept it if they want to be citizens of this country . That applies to all nationalities and not just Africans .
Sorry about the typo. Damn iphone ;-) . Of course I meant ” can not build an arc to send people home ” … Just a quick admin question . Is it possible as in forums to edit a post after it’s been posted .? Because the demon iphone predictive text is a pain . ;-)
Niall did he say “black Africans” or “African immigrants”?
black africans
The problem is he did not make a sweeping comment about a race. He commented about HIS EXPERIENCE in Nass when dealing with a particular group of people, who behave nearly every time in a predictable aggressive manner.
You will find scienctific papers conclusions are based on such repeated and predictable events.
Maybe it’s time there has been a real debate on the issues Cllr Scully raised, like it or not he made some very valid points…..
Which valid points exactly?
The valid point that reactionary generalisation is now a legitimate political stance?
Or the valid point that there seem to be plenty people online who are happy to agree with him from the safe haven of their PC, without having to go around telling the world, “do you know what? I don’t like black people either but that doesn’t make me racist”?
Or perhaps the valid point that thinking before you open your mouth is the very minimum requirement for being a politician? A requirement he has repeatedly failed to meet.
Or perhaps the valid point he made was that he was unfit for office?
Well said Ronan.
the point that he is quoted as saying:
‘he could no longer take on representations from black Africans, that he would be courteous to them and, and this is the key point, that he would pass on their query to other public representatives who would take their concerns’ Here he is conceding that he cannot fulfil his responsibilities as a public representative to a certain minority group BUT would ensure they are represented by passing on their concerns to someone, perhaps within the council, who is more qualified and experienced in dealing with said minority group. However, as ever the media mongrels take up on the first 10 – 15 words of any statement and pressure him into being labelled a ‘racist’.
It is a shame that someone with said responsible attitude concedes and steps down after brushing on a key issue that has to be resolved within our nations community integration programs.
Stephen, Interpret it as you will. However, he did not say that. At no point did he say he would pass their queries on to someone better qualified in dealing with minority groups. What he DID say was that he himself, would not represent part of the community he was chosen to represent.
However, supposing he did say what you wish he had, why should someone who specialises in dealing with minorities be required to deal with every issue raised by an african family? For example would they require special litter wardens on roads that have races other than white Irish people? This is xenophobia hidden behind a pleading for reason.
You are right that there is a crucial difference, but you fail to have seen it.
The valid points are and speaking experience, ie dealing with west Africans on a daily basis, the majority are quite rude, very loud and very quick to play the race card when things don’t go their way. This is not a generalisation but a fact. The majority of them have no respect for Irish culture or Ireland itself . It’s a disgrace considering what this country has done and continually provides for these people!
Think people are right too many people putting themselves into convenient little minority groups and throwing out the abuse card… Everyone should be treated the same and as I think some Australian politician put it…” if you don’t like the way we do things here, tough, nobody invited you here do just leave or get on with it”!!!
@Dudon. Too true
Racism is a cancer in Irish society, it will hold us back as a country, we need to work together not exclude and diminish others,
No sign of any black swans in that pic…
Show where Darren Scully HATES people of other races because of their skin colour or other racial difference?
Mr. Eric Yao says that perhaps its time to ‘move on’ and its an opportunity for’some level of education’.
Interesting comments, and he could be right.
Perhaps ‘moving on’ for him means we don’t have the open conversation that Darren Scully was trying to have.
Maybe it would suit Mr Yao if Irish people didn’t ask the hard questions about why some people are here in the first place.
And education is a great idea. If you are accepted into Ireland, there is an onus on YOU to educate yourself about our culture and its norms.
You have a responsibility to learn how citizens behave if you live amongst us.
You’re trolling right?
Darren Scully wasn’t trying to have an ‘open conversation’. He said he was no longer representing “Black Africans”. Where’s the dialogue?
Of course everybody should have basic manners but many people don’t, including black africans, white irish, white european, mixed race, asians, etc, etc.
This country needs to be very careful. Countries going through hard times have turned on sections of the community before.racism is an ugly face of this Scully should have known better or did he
@brian – so Irish people don’t shout when they don’t get their way?
Donncha I presume it was me that you addressed your question to. Irish people do shout and are rude, lets face it people the world over do it. The point here is that the racism card is played to bully the other person into submission. Other Irish people will do the same thing by saying that they will bring a discrimination case against a business. If there is a genuine case then I fully support the charge being laid against a person however I would be interested to know if there were any formal complaints made against Mr Scully.
Oh they turned on the international bankers in their society and immigrants who controlled their media and thus made their countries into places where the natives were not in control of their own destiny, and were made unemployed, homeless and starving due to the control exerted by the foreigners.
The cheek of them to do something about it and take their own lands back.
Why is it when someone (scully)speaks the truth everybody jumps on the racist bandwagon .what he said is true and I personally witness it everyday .when I am getting a bus or going around doing my general business I am pushed and shoved by the same race of people with whom there is never an excuse me or an apology .what scully said is the truth and I wish he had the balls to stand by it .
And the tragic irony is that a Nigerian family are without their father and husband now because of the aggression of an Irish person…the tables are turned. You would think the way these threads have gone over the past few days that the Nigerians in particular are only here to fleece the system and push us around and here was a Nigerian man who was assaulted while at work and as a result died of his injuries…Darren Scully that is agression.
Niamh what has that to do with anything? Scully was talking about people being disrespectful and rude, then saying that he was a racist because they didn’t get their way. What happened to that taxi driver could have happened to any driver but of course that wouldn’t serve your purpose would it?
I defy you to find me ONE person one this site that gloats over the death of that man..just ONE.
BTW How do you know that the man who has not yet been charged is Irish?
I didn’t say it was a racist attack but it is an example of aggression in our society, and it is ironic that the wk that this happened with Scully, that a Nigerian man is assaulted while at work, it just highlights the fact that aggression is not partcular to one continent or one race or one country, sadly its everywhere. I don’t know if the person responsible was Irish but it is unlikely he was African. All the comments over the past few days have been very negative about the African community in Ireland, we need to put things into perspective.
OK let’s put things into perspective and clarify something: it is Nigerian, and to a larger extent African, culture to be more ‘emotional’ ‘passionate’ and ‘expressive’ compared to our ‘passive’ ‘westernised’ ‘Irishness’ as I found out many times dealing with said culture around the world. A lot of Irish are unaccustomed to the ways and cultural differences because we here at home are not nearly so well travelled and open minded to new ways and ideals. FACT
This therefore breeds fear in new ways and ideals and so racism is developed sadly FACT
The same can be said for foreign nationals coming to Ireland, they do not understand our passive ways and so end up offending the ordinary Paddy behind the desk FACT
Going back to the original headline, Mr. Yao, a representative of the community makes a perfect opportunity to call on education, and what I would call enlightenment, in this matter. RESPONSIBLE
Darren Scully conceded that he cannot fulfil his responsibilities as a public representative to a certain minority group BUT would ensure they are represented by passing on their concerns to someone, perhaps within the council, who is more qualified and experienced in dealing with said minority group. RESPONSIBLE VICTIM
Well said Justin !!
Well said Niamh and Stephen.
Nobody in this country has “balls”,that’s why we’re in the state we’re in!….
Respect and good manners cost nothing . Mr Scully’s observations were true to an extent, but because he made a general sweeping statement, it came across as being ‘racist’.However he opened up a way to discuss racism and it should be followed up. Mr Yao could take this opportunity to open proper discussions to see where there are true racist problems or if it is a case of everyone learning to understand cultural differences. I am however a great believer in ‘when in Rome do what the Romans do’….If people come here from whatever part of the world they originated they should be the ones to make concessions.
I am not asking anyone to change their religions, or traditions, but to accept that we have our own and we should be allowed carry on as normal.
When it comes to some playing the racist card on a whim,because they are not getting what they want, well that is just bad manners.
I have many black African friends who I think very highly of but I agree totally with u we wouldn’t step on their toes if we lived over there it’s a matter of learning about living with one another I have seen many totally integrate with us and that’s how I have these friends but I’ve seen plenty of others being rude disrespectful and literally demanding their own way so much so my black African friends have often had arguments with these ones about their behaviour so it’s not even just White people that see their intimidating behaviour but also their fellow country men
Who could be against education? However, it has to cut both ways. Educating one group to just accept the ways of another, would not be education but political instruction. Some continuing level of critical reflection is necessary all round.
I really don’t get how so many of you don’t get this. Saying “lots of people from X group have been rude and unpleasant to me in my work” could possibly be considered brave/honest/against Pc madness or whatever you like.
The problem then is that he didn’t say “I’m going to stop dealing with rude people, especially when they make their race an issue.” He said “I’m going to discriminate against a particular race due to this experience.” Get a dictionary. Look up racism. Stop condoning it.
He actually said immigrants from African countries Alan
Get an Atlas. Look up Africa. Stop getting confused.
Finally, someone speaking sense. If this were a comment made by an Australian mayor about Irish people, nearly everyone would be up in arms about it.
The problem here is it is not discrimination if it happens to be true. And the truth in Mr Scullys real life experience is that he found black Africans to behave in a consistant, repeated predictable aggressive manner. Thus his decision.
That is not discrimination, that is taking the black Africans as you find them, and saying they as a rule behave in such a manner, thus I am closing shop.
Racism. Dictionary.
I initially thought most of the comments being posted to online message boards about this incident were just trolls looking for a reaction but I’m starting to believe that people actually agree with this man. Frightening!
What Darren Scully said was blatantly racist. There can be no argument about that. He made a decision to stop representing a minority ethnic group (“Black Africans”) based on his experiences with a select few. I’m sure that, as a councillor, he has dealt with rude white Irish and rude white europeans in the past. Why didn’t he say he will no longer deal with them?
He had no choice but to resign because as an elected official, he had a duty to represent ALL of his constituents regardless of the colour of their skin. He doesn’t have to put up with rudeness from any person but he cannot pick and choose who he wants to deal with based on ethnicity. We thankfully now live in a multicultural society. The comments he made were irresponsible and ignorant (not to mention jaw-droppingly stupid from a person supposedly from a party that calls for ‘inclusivity’)
Historically, our diaspora have faced discrimination, stereotyping and even violence because of where they came from. We were one of the States leading calls for an end to Apartheid in South Africa and pride ourselves on a human rights tradition. Darren Scully’s comments and the support he is receiving is shameful and have no place in our society. They set us back a hundred years.
This isn’t ‘bleeding heart liberalism’. Judge people on their individual merits or failings.
Jamie you speak complete sense. I was shocked to see how many people supportefd him. There is a need for education at a very basic level as to what constitutes racism and what doesn’t. There are too many people who think by saying ‘I’m not racist but….’ excuses the fact that what they continue on to say is undeniably racist. Then there are the others that think he was only expressing what everyone else is thinking, and again this does not mean just because ‘everyone’ else is thinking it, it is not racist, it is. We have too may example from history of minorities being scape goated when times are hard, we need to learn from our mistakes and not repeat them.
Now if all those who said that ‘I’ve worked with ‘these people’ and I have found them to be…add your own negative stereotype…’ I will say that I too have worked with people from all over the world and the people that were most aggressive towards me were our very own. Foreign people from all different nationalities, backgrounds and creeds were generally (I say generally because there is always one) friendly and open and kind.
still think it should be looked into why he said what he did and why these people thought it ok to abuse him.now is the time to do it while its out in the open,there are two sides to every story
I have witnessed abuse being dished out by Irish people in Welfare offices. Most of them were wearing similar clothing (for the sake of avoiding a generalisation, lets say a red scarf) Does that mean that I should assume that all people who wear red scarves are rude, aggressive people? Should I avoid dealing with them? Their choice of clothing is far easier to change than the colour of your skin – if there was a certain association between red scarves and aggressive behaviour then non-aggressive people would just stop wearing red scarves to avoid negative association wouldn’t they? Or would they just wear whatever colour scarf they liked and not care?
You can’t change your skin colour or ethnicity by choice – nor should you have to. We should learn to accept people as people, rather than judging on such ridiculous things as race or place of birth..
Shanti
This is Ireland, you would expect there to be bad IRISH people. In Africa there are bad AFRICAN people too. The difference here is that these people were allowed come here, we did not have to allow these people in. Where does it say we have to allow in foreigners to live in this country?
Our own bad apples is one thing, Irish people are born here. Foreigners are not, why do have to import foreign people and deconstruct our people, land and culture.
Pity theres not a caption competition for that photo…Darren Scully”away with the birds”
Yeah and their all WHITE birds too!
Dubdon that was John Howard Prime minister of Australia who subsequently lost the election AND his own seat.
Good example
Bridget, you are attempting to connect two events that have no relationship.
Howard lost for different reasons, and in fact the Australian immigration system is now *tighter* than it was when he was PM.
We should look to their system as the template for Ireland
Yeah we should definitely use australia as a template because from what I can see here if there is one country more racist than ireland its australia….although possibly only marginally…
Yes, I know. Mea culpa.I just couldnt resist doing him a small disservice
Didn’t agree with what Scully said and he was wrong to tar all with the same brush so to speak but, there has to be a debate on how Ireland is going to deal with it’s ‘ethnic minorities’ and there are certainly questions to be asked about why it was that he felt so strongly about dealing with certain group of people in Naas. Does the govt. actually know how many people of African origin there are in the country? Many i’m sure are legal migrants and work and contribute to Irish society but how many are actually here as illegal immigrants? Asylum seekers, (who given there are no direct links between Ireland and any African airports should be applying for asylum in the FIRST ports in which they entered the EU). Look around Europe and see what is happening in other countries such as the UK, France, Holland, Germany and Italy and you will see all sorts of problems which have developed over the decades through bad policy and lack of foresight from those in govt. and if Ireland is to offer all it’s people an equal society then it needs to take control of it’s immigration and naturalisation policies and practices and ensure that those who are entitled to be in Ireland get the help they need when they need it and those who have no right to be here are deported. Ireland has a relatively small population and there is no excuse for the govt. not knowing how many people are entitled to be in the country and how many are not entitled to be in the country. The minister whose remit immigration falls into should be doing more to ensure that the borders are not porous.
Getting slightly worried by the amount of pretty tame “racism is not a very nice thing” posts here with 400 thumbs down and vice versa…
I suppose their are people who shout at others when they do not get what they believe is theirs, racists are one group who do this, we all should respect our fellow human beings, but their is not one community of people who are anymore rude or disrespectful than another. Of course we should be allowed to point out bad behaviour, but the singular should not be applied to the plural that is discrimination and racism
Reading some of the comments on this and other Journal stories over the past few days any reasonable person would be forgiven for concluding that education is wasted on the Irish, and that we would have to be the most ignorant, ill-informed, racist and bigoted people on the planet.
Sean C
Hello extremist leftist, your propaganda is not working on the Irish anymore, your witch-hunt shouts of racist, bigot, uneducated hysteria is not working anymore.
Irish people have every right to have their land for their children and grandchildren, just as our ancestors passed it down to us, for our benefit.
And what have you got against people who may indeed have never been educated in your brainwashing system that teaches our children to open up their borders to millions of people from foreign lands. Are you going to say something against people who cannot read now?
People who are not educated may have a life of experience that beats your propagandised ‘education’ anyday. And their opinion is just as if not far more valuable.
Africa, just like Europe, is a diverse continent with many cultures. Scully thinks the vast majority of Afircans are so rude, that he’s entitled to fob off every black African he meets. He wouldn’t fob off white Africans in the same way. Who’s being rude? Who’s ‘playing the race card’? How can his analysis be deemed accurate, let alone brave?
Burn the Witch, burn the witch!
BLASPHEMER, HERETIC, RACIST, BIGOT.
Burn the Racist, burn the racist!
Welcome to the new piousness, the new church. We simply got rid of one and swopped it for another multicult church.
What is a constituent ? is it a voter?or is it some one who lives in an area represented by a politician regardless of their right to vote ???
I have since been told that it is a person living in an area whether you have a right to vote or not is irrelivent.:)
have your say