Tougher hate crime laws are still “definitely needed”, the victim of a random violent attack has said.
In 2021, Alanna Quinn Idris was violently attacked with an e-scooter in Ballyfermot, Dublin.
Ms Quinn Idris was left with a fractured eye socket, a detached retina and a “completely ruptured eyeball” that has permanently impacted her vision.
Earlier this month, the Government announced it would remove sections of the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 that would ban incitement to violence and hatred.
However, it will still impose longer prison sentences if a crime is motivated by hatred.
On The Hard Shoulder, Ms Quinn Idris said she felt “kind of confused” when she first heard about the change to the legislation.
“The way that Ireland is at the moment, it’s something that is definitely needed and [we’re] definitely not doing anyone any favours by not putting them in, I feel,” she said.
Ms Quinn Idris said she is concerned that violence against women has become more common in recent years.
“You’re hearing about something everyday and, obviously, racial abuse - that’s another thing,” she said.
“Obviously, LGBT hate as well - there’s so much going on that it’s like how can they not be changing [the law] for the better.”
Ms Quinn Idris described herself as a “mixed-race” and said because of this there are still some people who “just refuse to believe that I am an Irish person”.
“It’s hard for some people to comprehend that if you’re born in Ireland and you’ve been in Ireland your whole life, you don’t know anything else other than being Irish,” she said.
“Some people just don’t want to accept that.”
Ms Quinn Idris said she usually brushes this off as “stupidity and ignorance” but “100%” feel racism has become more common recently.
“I was only called the n word the other day on the bus,” she said.
You can listen back here:
Main image: Alanna Quinn Idris. Picture by: Newstalk.
