"I had never seen my daughter like that."
A mother in Ireland has been left heartbroken after her six-year-old daughter was allegedly assaulted and told to “go back to India” by a group of children outside their home in Waterford City.
Anupa Achuthan, a nurse who has lived and worked in Ireland for the past eight years, said her daughter Nia was playing outside their house in the Kilbarry area when a group of boys, believed to be between the ages of eight and 14, launched the attack.
Anupa said: “It was around 7:30 pm, and she was playing inside the house.
“She wanted to play outside and go cycling. I let her outside for a few seconds. My husband was at work on night duty. He was off to work, and I was alone with my 10-month-old and my six-year-old.
“She went out with her friends. I was supervising them just in front of the house. They were playing together, and I knew they were safe.”
Anupa briefly stepped inside to feed her baby. But moments later, her daughter ran into the house in tears.
Anupa recalled: “She couldn’t even talk. 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.”
What she claims happened next left her shaken:
“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… They said the F word and ‘Dirty Indian, go back to India’.
“She told me today they punched her neck and twisted her hair.”
The family had only moved into their new home in January 2025. Until now, everything seemed fine. Nia, who was born in Ireland, had been enjoying her time in the area and making new friends.
“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.
“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.”
Anupa later saw the group of boys herself and said they laughed and stared at her.
Despite the trauma, she is not seeking punishment for the boys involved. Instead, she wants them to be educated.
She said: “The fact these children did this without any provocation is not acceptable. They need an education on how to behave.
“I am proud to be Indian, but this is my second country. I am so happy to be an Irish citizen, but now I feel that I don’t belong here.
“I am a nurse; I am doing my best to take care of people. I do my work, and I am 100 per cent professional.
“I changed my citizenship, but still we are called dirty people, and even my kids are not safe.”
Her comments come as concerns grow over a rise in anti-Indian incidents in Ireland.
Taxi driver Lakhvir Singh was attacked by two passengers and is now scared to return to work.
Anupa is now calling for awareness and empathy.
She added: “This is not just about us. It’s about how we treat each other and what kind of society we want our children to grow up in.”
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