TOUGH LAWS TO TACKLE RACIST HATERS
MEP hits out after vile slurs scrawled over playground
The majority of people are welcoming and would not tolerate racism LYNN BOYLAN DUBLIN YESTERDAY
AN MEP has called for tougher anti-hate laws after racist graffiti was scrawled on a children’s playground.
Slogans including “Black C***s Out” and “N ***** s” were painted on a kids’ area in the Mac Uilliam estate in Tallaght, West Dublin. Posters promoting Africa Day in the Phoenix Park were also defaced. Lynn Boylan has slammed the vandalism and said Ireland now needs hate legislation to tackle the problem. The Sinn Fein politician told the Irish Mirror: “I was shocked somebody would go to the trouble to stencil out such disgusting racist language in a public playground. “I would appeal to the Irish Government to enact the long overdue hate legislation so that the small minority that do carry out racist acts such as this can be punished accordingly.” Ms Boylan reached out to reassure migrants the vandalism is the work of only a few people and racism is not gaining momentum. She said: “As someone from Tallaght, I know that whoever was responsible for this is not reflective of the community. “The majority of people are very welcoming of the new communities and would not tolerate such racism.” Ms Boylan added working-class districts are a prime target for hate groups. She said: “In an area like Tallaght where there is a shortage of houses, they are blaming the wrong people if they are blaming immigrants. “They should be blaming the Government.” South Dublin County Council responded swiftly and the graffiti was removed shortly after it was notified.