'I could not protect her': Mother says her six-year-old daughter was told to 'go back to India'; bicycle wheel was pushed onto her private parts

A six-year-old girl has come under racist attack in Ireland when she was playing outside her home in the Kilbarry area of Waterford City. Her mother Anupa Achuthan has been living and working as a nurse in Ireland for eight years and is now an Irish citizen, but her daughter was called a 'dirty Indian' and was asked to go back to India , Irish Mirror reported.

“I feel so sad for her. I could not protect her. I never expected that such an incident would happen. I thought she would be safe here," Anupa told the outlet.

The mother said she was watching her daughter playing with other kids just outside the house and went inside to feed her toddler son who in 10 months old, when the attack took place.

After a minute, the daughter came inside crying. “I had never seen my daughter like that. I just asked her friends what happened and they were all so upset, they couldn’t talk. One of her friends said a gang of boys older than them hit her on the private parts with a cycle and five of them punched her on her face," Anupa said.

“She told me five of them punched her in the face. One of the boys pushed the bicycle wheel onto her private parts and it was really sore. They said the F word and “Dirty Indian, go back to India. She told me today they punched her neck and twisted her hair.”

“Now I am really upset because she told me last night she was crying in the bed and is really upset to play outside. I do not feel safe here, even in front of our own house we believe she can’t play safely," the mother said.

Anupa said she ran outside and saw the gang comprising 12 to 14-year-olds. They understood that Anupa was the daughter's mother but they were staring at her and laughing.

“I believe this estate belongs to them as well. I do not want them punished, I would like them to get counselling. They have to be aware of this. I accept that they are kids, but they have to know how to treat other kids well," Anupa said, adding that she is not in Ireland without any qualifications. "We came here to fill a labour gap. We are professionals - we have all the certificates. I believe this is my country also. I belong here," Anupa said.

The incident took place as Indians in Ireland came under random attacks, and the Indian embassy asked Indians to be careful in Ireland.