Updated 8.39am
A NATURALISED IRISH citizen had his elbow fractured after being attacked by three men in his own driveway over the weekend, in the culmination of what he calls three weeks of racist abuse.
Osamah Zaidi moved to Ireland from Pakistan in 2006 and has since become an Irish citizen. He lived in a council house in Lucan for over five years without, he says, a single incident.
He was moved by South Dublin County Council to a house in Kiltatown Park in Jobstown in Tallaght on 25 March. Within two days, he says, his family were subject to racist abuse from a group of men aged between 16 and 21.
The abuse built to the attack on Saturday, when Osamah had parked his car.
“I had parked my car when three men attacked me. They punched me, kicked me and held me down.
“I ended up with a number of bruises and a fractured elbow.”
Osamah has reported the incident to both gardaí and South Dublin County Council, but says that he feels like a prisoner in his own home.
“I have three young children who are too scared to go to school because they are afraid to leave me alone.”
He adds that much of the verbal abuse is racist in nature and he believes his family are being targeted purely because of their origin. He says that the situation is proving stressful for himself and his family.
My kids are very distressed. All we want is a safe place to live.
First published 6.45am
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