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.
ONE WOMAN HAS been arrested after Dublin’s Lord Mayor Hazel Chu was accosted by a group of far-right protesters outside the Mansion House on Dawson Street in Dublin’s city centre.
Chu was approached by the protesters as she left the Mansion House, where she lives with her husband and young child, on Thursday.
One of the people who approached Chu touched her and offered to shake her hand. When Chu said she couldn’t because of Covid guidelines, the group criticised her for wearing a mask and argued with her over other Covid-19 measures.
According to the Irish Examiner, which first reported the story, the protesters were holding placards – one of which read ‘our lives matter’ – and filmed the incident.
Chu told the paper that it made her feel “deeply uncomfortable”.
The alliance Le Chéile, which aims to tackle the growth of the far right on the island of Ireland, said that “this was not a one-time event”.
“This is the result of consistent far-right and racist abuse towards the Mayor online which has escalated to the point where the far-right have felt emboldened to turn up to the Mayor’s home and harass her.”
Following the incident, Gardaí confirmed to TheJournal.ie that a woman in her 40s was arrested yesterday following “persistent lack of compliance with public health regulations and directions from An Garda Síochána”.
She was taken to Pearse Street Garda Station where she has since been released and issued with a Fixed Payment Notice, Gardaí said.
‘It wasn’t clear what they were protesting about’
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, Chu said that a regular annual event at the Mansion House was “hijacked” by this group who approached her yesterday.
She said that a notice had been spread in far-right Facebook groups encouraging people to come to the Mansion House to protest, though Chu said “it wasn’t clear what they were protesting about”.
None of them were wearing masks, Chu said.
After Chu said she told them that the Covid guidelines are to keep people safe, she said she was told that she was wearing a mask “to protect me and not them”.
As she approached the steps of the Mansion House, Chu said one of the people shouted: “When you start turning into a shape-shifting dragon, we will catch you on camera.”
“When I went into the House, more of them arrived and there was about 30 of them in total.”
She said that the people had confronted her about Covid regulations mostly, and that “the racist abuse tends to be more online,” but said that she recognised some members of the group yesterday had “provided very direct racist abuse on other occasions”.
Chu repeatedly stressed that she has nothing against protests, though she does think protesters should socially distance and abide by the guidelines.
“If people are against my policies, against Covid [policies], if they want to air their views, I’m absolutely happy to take it, but you do need a reason why you’re there protesting. It can’t just be because they don’t like the look of me – I can’t change those things.”
She said that the issue is complicated because “the Mansion House is also our home. What are you protesting against?”.
When asked about her young daughter, Chu said that “it’s hard not to be concerned” about her safety, adding that she does double-check around her when her daughter is with her.
Hazel Chu said that she has received abuse before that was directed at her daughter.
She continued:
“I’m in this job to make sure my daughter has a better life in the future, to the next generations. That’s why I’m here. I don’t want her to see the the crap out when there’s 30 people out there that don’t like me or her. My fear for her is that if we don’t change things – how will things be better for her?”
“I’ve been told I’m playing the victim card, but for me it’s so that we combat these issues.
“If there’s any good example [of what this can lead to], it’s what happened on Capitol Hill a week and a half ago. These things don’t die down, they build up. If you don’t challenge groups like this, if you don’t call it out, then you get to this boiling point where people ask why didn’t we do anything about it [before now]?”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
99% of the population of Europe have no problem with families coming here that are fleeing war but 99% have a problem with adults (men) destroying their documents and pretending to be children!
English children fleeing war would go to another European country with similar culture, middle eastern children should go to another similar neighbouring country in the middle east e.g. Saudi Arabia.
The vast majority of them do go to neighbouring countries.
Syria and Saudi Arabia don’t have anything approaching a ‘Similar culture.”
She didn’t bother to apply for asylum in France either. Heh.
Didn’t this happen during ww2 where children from London were sent to live in the countryside away from the bombs?
Goodnight Mr Tom was based entirely upon this fact, stupid leaving exam related book!
It’s a brilliant book too, I still have my copy!
Got my daughter to read it at 12. She too loved it.
David Jason narrated it on the audiobook. I used to have it on when my daughter was just a baby, instead of having the to on.
Will they have a video of fighting age men running away like we are seing?
Or are they just using kids to pull at hear strings as usual?
‘fighting age men’. FFS. The same you’d be giving out about as ‘radicals’
Think you miss the point McGowan
Have I? Isn’t she saying ‘why don’t we see a video of men who could fight’ fleeing?
With her tounge firmly in cheek, as that is the reality of what is happening. Not all fluffy innocence as the video suggests
With respect Foghorn, I’ll wait for Emma’s reply rather than your interpretation, accurate as it may be.
Do I really have to reply?
We see so many stock photos in the media of kids fleeing and videos like this, but the reality it is mainly men, aged between about 18 and 40.
You are either hopelessly naive or completely disingenuous McGowan.
I say we pass an EU-wide law that no fighting age men are to be taken in and are to be deported post haste. Take in the women and children and keep them in direct provision until peace returns to their homeland the send them home with some aid.
You are dead right Emma, somewhere above 70% of refugees are single, fighting age men.
So we should break up families and force men to take up arms?
And why not force the women to take up arms too? Heck, if we’re going to be racist then what’s the point in also being sexist?
Waysists!!
You mean force people to fight for their own country, just like every civilised country has done at some point in history?
We are lucky enough to live in a time that we don’t have to face that dilemma, however I have no doubt if called upon we could rise to the challenge. They on the other hand are failing miserably.
Or would you prefer to send westerners to fight their wars for them?
Interesting. By your definition Ireland is not a “civilised country” then as it has never forced people to fight for it. Quite a worry take on world affairs you have.
And of course in not suggesting that others should then be forced to fight for Syria. What a false dichotomy you have proposed.
We didn’t have to be forced to fight. We figured it out by ourselves.
No every single man of fighting age though fought in Ireland. And the state didn’t “force” them too, making Ireland (by your definition) “uncivilised”. Although I’d struggle to take instruction on the definition of civilisation from someone who proposes turning back refugees and forcing them into a battlefield.
There are plenty of people of fighting age fighting on various sides in Syria. But not 100% of them obviously. I can completely understand why a man with a wife and kids would want to get himself and his family to safety, rather than die on a battlefield. But clearly an armchair warrior like yourself can’t make that distinction.
Colm, What would happen if everyone ran away from every fight?
Ok Colm, bring em all in.. What could possibly go wrong?
I’m pretty sure I will be ok, I have a rich daddy who rents out property, if anything it will push up property prices. I will be able to build bigger walls around my own house and get new electric gates.
I won’t have to worry about my kids getting beaten up by gangs of muslim kids in school, like the kids in Germany, because they will be in a private school.
I will also be able to fire my current gardener cause I’m sure I will be able hire a cheaper one.
I don’t use public transport so I won’t have to worry about any random stabbing attacks like they had in Germany today or anything like the 7/7 bombings..
I’m pretty sure I will be ok… Will you?
The problem with being wrong Colm, much like being stupid, is that it always comes to light in the end. It always advertises itself and it is constantly forced to argue it’s case and prove itself. You will find as time goes on you will need to validate your opinions on this matter more and more in the face of increasing evidence against you.
I have 4 kids myself, part of my responsibility as a father is to bequeath a safe and functioning society to my kids. This immigration crisis is the greatest risk to that. And you are endangering all of our children with your mindless ideology.
If everyone ran away from every fight then logically there’d be no fights.
But I’m guessing your looking for a figurative “the bad guys would win” answer as opposed to a literal one.
If you’re not going to reply specifically to any of my points, then I’m going to stop replying to yours.
What is your point? Bring more illegal immigrants into Europe?
And the difficulty with adopting a balanced view, Durty Devil, is being able to see both sides of an argument as opposed to adopting a black vs white worldview.
Sure, plenty of fighting-age men are among the refugees. But plenty of others are also fighting on various sides. One does not invalidate the other.
Likewise, a small number of people among refugees are going to be terrorists. But that does not disprove the very real plight of the majority.
No doubt terrorism is a worry. But if you think it’s the single biggest threat to your kids (as opposed to the energy crisis or climate change) then you’re seriously miscalculating the overall risks. But given you’ve chosen to have 4 kids in a world experiencing a population crisis it’s probably fair to question your assessment of risk.
Still, feel free to throw about words like “wrong” and “stupid” at those who do not immediately agree with you. Life is easier if you ignore complexity
Colm, You’re being ridiculous…you knew exactly what I meant. If people in general run away from aggressors – the bad guy does win! Great world that would be!
@colm
You appear to want to argue about language rather than issues.
That’s a bit disingenuous.
I’ve argued plenty about the issues – have a read. I’ve also argued about some of the language too.
Colm you would march your wife and kids into the line where they hand out the bars of soap for the showers, I guess you just one of those guys
Colm, Wow! What a disgraceful comment. Durty Divil has 4 kids who he can presumably look after but you think he’s the problem…and not the Africans and others who bring too many children into the world who they just can’t take care of. These people are f*ucking up their own countries – they can’t have mine. I have no problem helping the children/people of other nations – but I don’t actually owe them anything.
Colm to be quite honest I have no response to such an unassailable level of ignorance, good luck with the rest of your life.
I didn’t say he’s “the problem”. And which problem, specifically?
The reason I raised it was because he said the main risk to his kids is immigration/terrorism (can’t quite tell which, but they seem interchangeable).
But realistically, terrorism threatens very few lives. Overpopulation, the stretching of global resources etc is a far far greater risk to global safety and security. Given that reality, having a large family adds to that. He has misattributed risk. And is that misattribution of risk, and the overstatement of the danger of terrorism, that helps to fuel fear and xenophobia.
And yes, to address your comment, having a large family is irresponsible whether you’re a white European or a black African. The difference is that a white European generally has the benefit of an excellent education, so should be aware of the issue of an increasing population.
Anyway, I’ve probably slightly derailed this thread by bringing this topic into it. But interestingly you commented on my one irrelevant statement as opposed to anything more relevant that I said.
Nothing like a good Muslim story to tear Emma away from her Barbie dolls. Always brings out the haters. Wasting your time Colm.
@Eddie Nugent
Care to expand on that?
Tweed, yes my barbie dolls have been getting badly neglected lately, so many Muslim storys, things aren’t getting any better for them are they?
I wonder why.
Colm, Specifically – overpopulation. It’s not an irrelevant statement – it’s the nub of the problem. We are not in a migration crisis because a few people in Ireland are having four children who they can afford to take care of, we are in a migration crisis because others are having too many children that they CANT take care of. You ‘are’ saying that Durty Divil is part of the problem – you are saying there is a problem with overpopulation (in the world) and you are directly linking the size of his family (an added risk) to the world’s overpopulation and the migration crisis. No one in this country is responsible for the overpopulation of Africa, the ME and other overpopulated regions. It is not irresponsible to have a family of 4 that you can support and in an environment that supports it. It sort of sounds like you think he should have had less children (and taken some in from Africa)? Or maybe had no children? You need to get this “global resources” shite out of your head – the Irish don’t owe anyone anything and we should not take in huge numbers of people from anywhere because they can’t keep their knickers on. The answer should not be that white Europeans only have 1 or 2 children or no children because African’s will have 5 or 6 – it should be that African’s stop having 5 or 6 that they can’t take care of.
Well said Bingo!
A waste of time Colm when you are dealing with people who have not really thought about the issue in any rational way, but are having their puppet strings pulled by tabloid newspapers and online rubbish. It is a joke to think that we are at risk in Ireland from Islamic fundamentalism – Catholic control of our state is what we are most in danger of when it comes to religious hegemony! There is no evidence whatsoever that all Syrian men are terrorists any more than there is evidence that all Irish people are terrorists because of the IRA. Nor do any Islamists have any reason to attack Ireland – we have not invaded Muslim countries – nor are we bombing in the Middle East – like all the countries that have suffered these attacks. If Islamists had wanted to bomb or kill or maim in Ireland, they would have done so by now. Simple minded mob thinking.
Break up families? Eh that’s the point the women and children are left behind …here in sweden the borders looked like a major football game had just finished. ..overwhelmingly male 17-45 yrs old.
sounds like feelz over realz , why not a dad and his son at the very least? I’d imagine a lot of people are getting fed up at attempts like this to manipulate people’s opinions
Having a father figure goes against the liberal narrative, because remember, we dont need men even when fleeing somewhere in a makey uppey video.
Anyway, shouldnt they be sending this to world leaders instead ?
not sure who they should be sending it to, all I know is that pathological virtue signalling is a mental illness. Not to mention that the only reason I could think of for there to be a war in England might a successful Islamic jihad on British soil. I don’t know if they thought that one through ;-)
Let’s take a step back into the reality of the migrant crisis.
Police Chief of Östersund, Stephen Jerand, advised all women to not go out after sunset because they are likely to be raped or “something more terrible”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLCWbrWqe1Y
That wouldn’t happen if the migrants were all little English girls instead of young men from cultures where women are seen as little more than property.
It’s a children’s charity. A charity that looks after children. I’d imagine That’s why they used a child. I’d also imagine they wouldn’t be making ads if they weren’t looking for money. Why would a children’s charity be looking for money? Hopefully you can figure out the rest.
It’s politically motivated. They care because it fills their ego and bolsters up their left wing agenda.
Well if their left wing agenda involves helping millions of children in need where’s the problem? Save the children has been responding to disasters around the world for decades and they do incredible work. I first donated to them for their campaign in helping victims in New Orleans, US after the floods and again for their campaign to bring aid to the child victims of the conflict in Yemen. Now if you hate left wing politics or Muslims so much that you have no sympathy with the innocent victims (as children they’re innocent) of disasters both natural and man made then that’s your business. Personally I think they deserve my sympathy and whatever I can afford to donate. In fact it was a similar ad that prompted me to donate after the new Orleans floods and if this ad has the same effect then I’m delighted. There are 5 million Syrian children in need of aid, 1 million of whom are refugees. I’d doubt they’ll see this ad and I’d doubt they know about the left wing agenda behind it. But I’m sure they’d be delighted to know that people like you stood by your principles (right wing agenda?) and happily left them to whatever miserable fate awaited them.
If you want to stereotype people then you might like to mention that nearly 100% of rapes (and indeed all violent crimes) are committed by men. Being a man yourself, do you have anything to say about that? What should we do about men do you think? Perhaps we should have a curfew for all men? Then women could walk the streets at night safely.
“the video was intended to bring home the reality of the migrant crisis”
They could do a follow up video showing most of the migrants as military age men and many of them carrying out terror attacks.
Go on red thumb me.
Ok so
It’s a children’s charity. They look after children. Children that have gone through experiences like those depicted in the ad. Might as well ask why a macdonalds commercial doesn’t use abrakebabra in its ad.
Okay, so how about showing the young girls being sent into forced marriages or having genital mutilations then?
Or being physically beaten in their home countries under their ideologies?
Or as user PT Pat said “Police Chief of Östersund, Stephen Jerand, advised all women to not go out after sunset because they are likely to be raped or “something more terrible”.”
Would you donate money for their efforts in caring for displaced Syrian children (there are about a million) with an ad depicting a child being beaten at home? Or with a video of a Swedish politician speaking about a completely different issue? I’m not sure you understand how advertising works.
Good Man Will Phillips, nothing better than the old Whataboutery method of argument to completely ignore the issue being discussed here.
You are a bit mixed up Will – genital mutilation is not generally a feature of life in Syria! I don’t think children are beaten in Syria any more than Irish children (Ireland one of the last few countries not to have ratified rights of children when it comes to physical punishment) Women not being able to go out after sunset – is this because Syrian men are raping women there – where is your evidence for that? I agree that men are mostly responsible for all violence against women, since we are busy stereotyping – would you agree that there should be a curfew on all men at night then perhaps? Easy to point the finger at others, but it’s not so nice being stereotyped ourselves, is it?
Jesus that’s powerful
Powerful indeed Paddy.
And now wait for the racist red thumbs.
aaaahhh!! the waycists are coming!!
Powerful stuff alright, I wonder is she fleeing a jihad against England? The only war likely in those parts eh?
@Bobby Moore
Islam isn’t a race.
If a Vietnamese person converted to Christianity, they’re still Vietnamese.
If a white American converts to Buddhism, they’re still white.
Islam is an ideology. Either convert or die.
Don’t know what your point is DD.Care to explain?
What an ignorant comment Will Phillips, The vast majority of muslims believe in secularism.
Either convert or die. lol
Here Bobby I’ve done your homework for you. Some straight facts about how slim your “majority” is, if it is indeed a majority.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7TAAw3oQvg
“The vast majority of muslims believe in secularism.”
Afghanistan isn’t secular
Somalia isn’t secular
Iraq isn’t secular
Iran isn’t secular
Sudan isn’t secular
Saudi Arabia isn’t secular
Muslims aged 18-29 likely to support sucide bombings
22% -Germany
26%- USA
29% – Spain
35% – Britain
42% – France
40% of British Muslims want Sharia Law
A youtube video counts as facts now, lol. Do some proper research yourself.
There are 1.6 billion muslims in this world, If islam really does breed terror, we’d be all dead by now. The combined forces of Islamic State (ISIS) Boka Haram and Al Qaeda make up just 0.003% of the global muslim population. Less than 2% of terror attacks are made in the name of Islam. You’ve got more chance of dying from a bee sting or even a peanut. Have a bit of perspective please.
Oh no your in trouble now.. Facts and figures won’t save you from the wrath of the Social Justice Warriors
Moron? When you start name calling, you’ve lost the argument. lol
Didn’t you call us Racist?
‘Racist’ …lol
So by your logic Bobby if I say “The earth is not flat, Gob$hite!” then the earth is actually…flat?
Perhaps she is fleeing IRA bombs?
Ireland isn’t secular. The UK isn’t secular. What is your point? What about Syria – is that not the country we are talking about?
Rubbish
It’s f**kin ridiculous that we are all bickering about this. Completely fueled by oligarchs who thrive on war, defense and security. Show compassion in life. Don’t approach people in need with hate. It won’t do you any good. Leave your presumptions aside and focus on understanding. It s a lot easier, less stressful, and we will get a hell of a lot more done.
Of course, sure there will be no consequence at al to open bordersl.
How quickly we forget Paris and all the other attrocities that are too numerous to name.
If this is all fuelled by oligarchs hellbent on war and devastation, is it not a safe assumption that the migrant crisis is just another machination of their war we should reject?
Just playing devils advocate bro
Paris attacks were carried out by people who had long settled in Europe not those who came in during the recent refugee crisis.
Which proves the point even more- that even after a generation they didn’t integrate and were formenting their hatred for their adoptive country.
If that is what we have to look forward to, then no thank you.
So y’all are aware that the terrorists are a tiny minority – just like the numbers of Irish people who were IRA members – would you condemn all Irish people too? Some did at the time of the bombs in London – I was living there at the time and had to put up with the moronic skinhead type of Sun readers who were racist against all Irish people because of the IRA bombs. It’s just the same thing.
The ourselves alone brigade once again post their simplistic inane drivel that shows no sympathy towards those in need.
Simplistic inane drivel? Ha, that’s a bit rich. Seems to me like the ones for opening up borders are the simple thinking ones.
That video should contain at least 60% Welsh Scottish and paddy economic migrants too diluting the needy
What has Cameron’s anti Brexit propaganda to do with Ireland.
Emotional manipulation doesn’t work on me.
The emotionally triumphant stuff directed by Leni Riefenstahl probably does.
England isn’t war-torn? This is a very misleading post.
This is blatant click bait.
Duh.
Whoosh!
Don’t worry…give the Tories a couple more terms in office and they’ll leave it looking war-torn enough. There are already plenty of potholes, boarded-up shop windows, overcrowded trains, homeless people, derelict housing and armies of spivs selling dodgy goods on the sly. We’re half-way back to the Blitz as it is.
Harry isn’t there a prediction that a revolution will start in Southern Wales that will change England’s government and when that happens then England will attack Ireland?
How come the citizens of Ireland didn’t take on the British army in 1916, loads of them were killed without even firing a shot in anger.
Did they not? Wow I’ve been grossly misled all these years.
Who knew all those folk fighting the good fight 100 years ago weren’t Irish citizens
No loads of them ran away. North king Street in Dublin the British army went in to people’s houses and shot the people in them without so much as a fight.
Silly statement, If some one runs into your house with a gun and you are not ready, run away on that day.
Regather, regroup then strike.. Thats how we had the war of independence.
You make it sound so simple. So if someone runs into your house with a gun you simply run away. Brilliant !!! You’ve solved the conundrum of war with your analysis there. Nobel prize for you. I can see the headlines now, irish woman solves war. Her answer is if someone bursts into your house with a gun you just run away. And you say I’m making silly statements.
Well I certainly won’t be relying on you for any survival tips any time soon
Not even remotely similar Aoife, cool Jessica Alba profile pic though
I guess you could apply your logic to loads of stuff. Car crashs just don’t crash your car. All the accidental drowning off our coasts, simple just swim to shore.
You just said loads of people ran away when soldiers ran into there houses with Guns, like cowards.
I am just saying that is a logical thing to do at that given moment otherwise you would be dead.
You don’t get it do you? If a gang of soldiers or terrorists come bursting into their house do you think you’d even have the chance to flee. You haven’t thought his through at all. You have zero experience of combat and nor do I but I don’t think it’s as simple as just fleeing away. Where to? The Dublin mountains maybe, in the rain and cold with your kids. Don’t you see this is exactly what is happening to people just like you in Syria and elsewhere and they have people giving misinformed and to be frank ignorant ” advice” on how to help themselves.
Because they were making so much money selling meat and vegetables to England, remember farm labourers as well as farm horses were taken from English farms for the first world war effort. A Million horses died from England in WW1… The Rising was a few men making trouble until these men were executed, what made the Rising was the execution and how I was done until then everyone was angry at them…
I think that sometimes it is acceptable to pull at peoples heart strings. Most of the above points and concerns are valid. A huge number of those fleeing do appear to be men and there are undoubtedly terrorists among them but there are thousands if not millions of innocent children, women and men involved also. Our governments in Europe should be doing much more to help.
The Governments of Europe need to help their own people first.
This ad is aimed at the general public not governments. If you don’t care about the plight of millions of children from Syria and other conflicts you don’t have to donate to save the children.
Indeed, the Daily Mail, who are promulgating so much of the racist fear-mongering now were doing the same thing during WW2 with their nasty front pages about the swarms of Jews trying to get into the UK and how they should keep them out or they would take over. Haters gotta hate.
Horrific.
How about the children? Who’d look after them? Would you leave small infants on their own with bombs falling on your house. And where would you get weapons to fight? Have you ever used a machine gun yourself or fired a missle?
Have you ever used a machine gun yourself?
Yes I have.
You’d be handy then. I was asking Emma though but she’s disappeared.
Bombs falling on your house ? In the video perhaps, but not in Calais or Greece or Turkey.
Very powerful
Like Epsom salts lol.
Syria, now that is a mess created by Russia and the U.S. together with Turkey and Saudi Arabia helping to add fuel to it?
Interesting how quickly we forget they awful way Irish emigrants were treated because a small minority of IRA bombers eh?
So it is like U.K. made cluster bombs falling in Palestine on the Palestinian children by Israel, O I see now???
So Scotland got their independence then lol.
have your say