Racist Ireland

BraziliaNZ · 05-01-2012 09:51AM #1

For all the uproar on boards about that "Horrible chav English woman" on the tram abusing those immigrants, are we any better? Seems to be happening on a large scale in Ireland. This is shocking stuff, in this day and age Irish people are carrying on like this. I've often seen people avoid taxis because the drivers are black, and I'm ashamed to say I have friends at home who do the same. Are we inherently narrow minded? My own view of it was that Africa is an exploited corrupt sh*thole and we should at least try and offer some of them a better life.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/courts/lsquoi-get-daily-racist-abuse-for-being-a-coloured-taxi-driverrsquo-2980239.html

A NIGERIAN taxi driver, who is a qualified accountant, has revealed how he receives daily racist abuse and is scared to work as a cabbie in Ireland after suffering two assaults by passengers.

Married father-of-four Bartholomew Omoifo (36) spoke out as a man was jailed for viciously attacking him in his car.

"For a coloured man, working as a taxi driver is very dangerous. I am afraid to go working because of previous experiences. One is very scared."

Azriel Higgins (26) was jailed for nine months at Ennis District Court yesterday for the assault on Mr Omoifo on June 5, 2010.

Mr Omoifo said that he had been the victim of a subsequent assault by another passenger just four months ago.

He admitted: “It is very tough as a black taxi driver. If I had a choice I wouldn't be working as a taxi driver but I have to support my home."

Mr Omoifo earlier told the court that Higgins, of Creggaun, Tobarteascain, Ennis, Co Clare, called him a "bastard ******" before headbutting him in the mouth knocking out two front teeth.

Higgins -- who pleaded guilty to the assault and has 14 previous convictions -- attacked Mr Omoifo after refusing to pay a €15 fare.

Mr Omoifo required four stitches with dental work costing €2,400. Damage done to the taxi cost €761.

He described the assault as "very, very traumatic". He said: "I suffered needlessly. I have two false teeth now and I was out of work for three weeks."

On the daily racist abuse, Mr Omoifo said: "Passengers flag you down, open the door and when they see you are coloured, they say 'F*** off'. I get this every day."

He added: "I am relieved that I have been given the privilege in court to state what really happened. I have been given respect. At least it shows me that there is justice for us and gives me the assurance that the protection is there and we can get justice."

He has been living in Ireland for eight years but believes that some people are "venting their anger at the economy" on immigrants.

- Gordon Deegan

Leftist · 05-01-2012 09:55AM

Wait until you read the replies to that from the knuckle draggers.

The thread about the FG mayor of naas really brought them out of their holes.

Irish people have a strong reputation for racism. As emigrants to USA, Uk and Australia.
It comes from our enviroment, which was dominated by one race, one religion and sectarianism.

CardBordWindow · 05-01-2012 09:56AM

I'm not racist!

Sure I've a coloured TV at home!

HovaBaby · 05-01-2012 09:56AM

Well the fella who headbutted him is a complete scumbag. I doubt very much he would be up to date in matters in Africa. I don't think the scummer would be indictive of the regular Irish population.

sensibleken · 05-01-2012 09:57AM

Im afraid I am a racist. More and more when I go for a taxi I can't help hopeing to avoid a white taxi driver. I try and be open minded but I simply can't take any more of the racist ranting, adrian fcuking kennedy or bitching about deregulation. Im not proud of it and I know not all white taxi drivers are Irish. Last week I got a a lovely white guy, hungarian i think, and Im trying to mend my ways

BraziliaNZ · 05-01-2012 09:57AM

I know it's only one man's story, but I've seen it so many times, people skipping taxis because of the driver being black. It's just pathetic, I feel sorry for them.

fishy fishy · 05-01-2012 09:57AM

terrible story, but listen - taxi drivers get attacked every night of the week. Black and white. Maybe sit in on a taxi on a Saturday night and see what they go through. Im sure there are plenty of Irish taxi drivers getting attacked, spat at, abused, vomited on, left without fares. Its not an exclusive black thing. It happens to all taxi drivers. All taxi drivers get a bad wrap - people turn into thugs and animals when they have drink on them. Ask any Irish taxi driver if they have ever been attacked. NO taxi driver should be attacked no matter where they come from (or is it okay for Irish taxi drivers to be attacked).

myflipflops · 05-01-2012 10:02AM

I'm yet to encounter a country without seeing, reading about or hearing about noticeable racism from the local population.

It's not nationalities that are racist, it's just individual w*nkers. Some countries have more than others and Ireland is probably on the lower end of the scale.

amacachi · 05-01-2012 10:03AM

I assume yer man's 14 previous convictions weren't all to do with racially motivated attacks? Eventually such people are bound to pick on a non-white person they'll just be saying "black bastard" or some variant instead of whatever "reason" they had for going for someone else, "hippy freak" etc.

Cianos · 05-01-2012 10:06AM

myflipflops wrote: »

I'm yet to encounter a country without seeing, reading about or hearing about noticeable racism from the local population.

It's not nationalities that are racist, it's just individual w*nkers. Some countries have more than others and Ireland is probably on the lower end of the scale.

I'd say we're on the higher end of the scale for the number of people who think it's socially acceptable to be outwardly racist, but yes I'd say we're on the lower end of the scale for more extreme behavior.

Leftist · 05-01-2012 10:08AM

sensibleken wrote: »

Im afraid I am a racist. More and more when I go for a taxi I can't help hopeing to avoid a white taxi driver. I try and be open minded but I simply can't take any more of the racist ranting, adrian fcuking kennedy or bitching about deregulation. Im not proud of it and I know not all white taxi drivers are Irish. Last week I got a a lovely white guy, hungarian i think, and Im trying to mend my ways

Shocked by this post as it is actually sensible.

I got a hungarian taxi driver once around Merrion Square last year, he was absolutely bang on.

I also hated taking white Dublin taxi drivers. Half way through their rant I would say my wife is eastern european/african and their whole rant put on the brakes. oh yeah but this and no but that's family etc.

Scum.

Pdfile · 05-01-2012 10:14AM

Leftist wrote: »

Shocked by this post as it is actually sensible.

I got a hungarian taxi driver once around Merrion Square last year, he was absolutely bang on.

I also hated taking white Dublin taxi drivers. Half way through their rant I would say my wife is eastern european/african and their whole rant put on the brakes. oh yeah but this and no but that's family etc.

Scum.

indeed, i got one who hated eastern europeans so i started speaking broken polish and he shat himself....

on the flip side ive gotten polish taxi drivers who where sound, beyond sound if anything...

the irish taxi mans days are numbered thank fcuk.

copeyhagen · 05-01-2012 10:16AM

i have no problems getting a taxi which is being driven by a black man (got a taxi home from the airport tuesday whom was black), but i think the reason most people object is

a) a lot of them havent a CLUE about areas in dublin. a very drunken passenger + driver that doesnt know where hes going = huge taxi fare

b) a lot of people are under the belief that black drivers allow friends / family to also drive their taxis under the one taxi licence.

i hate the idea of my gf getting a taxi home alone, white or black. if she decides to skip a black taxi man because shes afraid well thats her choice and i stand by it.

Chuck Stone · 05-01-2012 10:19AM

One white guy headbutting a black cab driver a racist population does not make.

Oranage2 · 05-01-2012 10:22AM

#every country in the world have racists - Should whole nations be labeled now because of a very small minority?

Chuck Stone · 05-01-2012 10:22AM

Was in a taxi with a few lads heading in town and the driver started giving out about blacks and I said 'My Dad is black'.

He actually went quiet despite me having fair hair, blue eyes and white skin! XD

myflipflops · 05-01-2012 10:22AM

copeyhagen wrote: »

i hate the idea of my gf getting a taxi home alone, white or black. if she decides to skip a black taxi man because shes afraid well thats her choice and i stand by it.

Her choice but incredibly racist.

She has judged a person by their skin pigmentation. Not nationality or demeanor or attitude or anything else.

This I suppose is what it comes down to: white people in Ireland are Irish or British or American or Polish or whatever else. We all have pre conceived notions of what comes along with each nationality.

Black people are black apparently and let their be no other distinction.

In truth, the same things happen in countries that have a mainly black population. The white guy is just a skin colour too.

amacachi · 05-01-2012 10:26AM

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Was in a taxi with a few lads heading in town and the driver started giving out about blacks and I said 'My Dad is black'.

He actually went quiet despite me having fair hair, blue eyes and white skin! XD

It's wonderful how easy it is to scare the **** out of them. Nice to be related to a black guy who'd be fairly well-known to 40+ year olds around here as well just for the sake of added fun. :pac:

BraziliaNZ · 05-01-2012 10:27AM

copeyhagen wrote: »

i hate the idea of my gf getting a taxi home alone, white or black. if she decides to skip a black taxi man because shes afraid well thats her choice and i stand by it.

Do you hate when she leaves the house without a man too? You should move to Saudi.

Wicklowrider · 05-01-2012 10:28AM

I'm not sure that he'd be any safer if he was white & Irish.
I drove cabs for a while back in the '90's and was seriously attacked twice and a few minor incidents. Didn't make the news though - why? Because I'm white and Irish and it doesn't make good news because it happens every week of the year. I could tell stories all day of Irish drivers who suffered serious assault. If the attacker isn't shouting racist abuse it will just be some other form of abuse. There are violent, irrational, angry so & so's in every country. I've sympathy for this chap as I've sympathy for any victim. I'm not convinced that an Irish national is any safer on the streets than a foreign national and if you spend any time researching it online I doubt you'll find any different. Another example I'll give you is that both my sons, aged late teens, have been violently assaulted on more than one occasion. If my lads were foreign the attacks would be chalked up as racial - fact is the thugs would have assaulted anyone.

KTRIC · 05-01-2012 10:29AM

Well I'm not racist but ......

If I going to get a taxi I don't want to be driven by someone that is shouting into their phone in some African dialect, doesn't know where they're going and has change when I pull out a €20.

Some of the soundest taxi drivers I've had have been Indian, Chinese and Eastern European. The African lads have just made a bad name for themselves and its well deserved.

amacachi · 05-01-2012 10:31AM

KTRIC wrote: »

Well I'm not racist but ......

Some of the soundest taxi drivers I've had have been Indian, Chinese and Eastern European. The African lads have just made a bad name for themselves and its well deserved.

At least try ffs!

If I going to get a taxi I don't want to be driven by someone that has change when I pull out a €20.

You don't want to be driven by someone who can break a 20 for ya? You sound like a nightmare.

Sunnyisland · 05-01-2012 10:31AM

Pdfile wrote: »

indeed, i got one who hated eastern europeans so i started speaking broken polish and he shat himself....

on the flip side Ive gotten polish taxi drivers who where sound, beyond sound if anything...

the irish taxi mans days are numbered thank fcuk.

Really you think that would be a good thing ?

I use taxies quite a lot,Most of them are white drivers most of them are sound,Doesn't bother me in the least where the driver is from,If you don't like the attitude of the driver and he is going on & on tell him to pull in or/and report him.The generalising here of Irish taxi drivers here is a bit OTT imo.

Leftist · 05-01-2012 10:43AM

Wicklowrider wrote: »

I'm not sure that he'd be any safer if he was white & Irish.
I drove cabs for a while back in the '90's and was seriously attacked twice and a few minor incidents. Didn't make the news though - why? Because I'm white and Irish and it doesn't make good news because it happens every week of the year. I could tell stories all day of Irish drivers who suffered serious assault. If the attacker isn't shouting racist abuse it will just be some other form of abuse. There are violent, irrational, angry so & so's in every country. I've sympathy for this chap as I've sympathy for any victim. I'm not convinced that an Irish national is any safer on the streets than a foreign national and if you spend any time researching it online I doubt you'll find any different. Another example I'll give you is that both my sons, aged late teens, have been violently assaulted on more than one occasion. If my lads were foreign the attacks would be chalked up as racial - fact is the thugs would have assaulted anyone.

I used to get a late night taxi from Dublin to the outskirts alot in my early 20s.

I'd say 9/10 times the taxi driver would drop hints about how he or the garda would catch runners or how he might have a crowbar under his seat if anyone tried anything. Never really threatening me but always giving me the idea that running or hitting him would be a bad idea.

Seems like they were ****ting themselves.

Started making a bit of fun out of it. Was great when there was one of the lads in the car with me.

Just take a turn into this estate. it'll be over soon etc.

never did anything but they would sweating by the time I paid. They were actually delighted we paid.

looksee · 05-01-2012 10:51AM

Leftist wrote: »

I used to get a late night taxi from Dublin to the outskirts alot in my early 20s.

I'd say 9/10 times the taxi driver would drop hints about how he or the garda would catch runners or how he might have a crowbar under his seat if anyone tried anything. Never really threatening me but always giving me the idea that running or hitting him would be a bad idea.

Seems like they were ****ting themselves.

Started making a bit of fun out of it. Was great when there was one of the lads in the car with me.

Just take a turn into this estate. it'll be over soon etc.

never did anything but they would sweating by the time I paid. They were actually delighted we paid.

Oh, what fun! Have to get the bit of entertainment where you can these days!

bruschi · 05-01-2012 10:55AM

Wicklowrider wrote: »

If the attacker isn't shouting racist abuse it will just be some other form of abuse. There are violent, irrational, angry so & so's in every country.

this here. almost reminicsent of the South Park 'Hate Crime' episode.

was this a racially motivated crime?

Or was this a crime where the attacked person happened to be black?

the taxi drivers accounts of people saying fcuk off when they opened the door of his car is racist. but without knowing the full details of his attack, it doesnt necessarily equate to being a racist attack.

it also doenst make a nation racist, although its not exactly great either.

Captain Darling · 05-01-2012 10:56AM

I have to say i'm a bit of a taxi-ist. Some dodgy characters out there amongst some really nice guys. Regardless of colour.

Leftist · 05-01-2012 10:57AM

looksee wrote: »

Oh, what fun! Have to get the bit of entertainment where you can these days!

Well, it was a few years ago and like I said it was after many veiled threats and horrendous over charging. And on a lot of occassion peppered with racist or offensive rants from an obnoxious driver.

They were never in harm.

Except for one exception. but he was a vile man.

Lollipops23 · 05-01-2012 10:58AM

copeyhagen wrote: »

i have no problems getting a taxi which is being driven by a black man (got a taxi home from the airport tuesday whom was black), but i think the reason most people object is

a) a lot of them havent a CLUE about areas in dublin. a very drunken passenger + driver that doesnt know where hes going = huge taxi fare

This. My opinions of people/professions are shaped by my own experience over a period of time and unfortunately my experience with African taxi drivers has been 99% negative in terms of them not knowing where they are going. 2 guys didn't know where D'Olier St was (both coming from elsewhere in the City Centre) and various other problems.
In general they tend to be more polite than Irish drivers though (I've had my fair share of Irish assholes too).

I tend to avoid getting a taxi as much as I can these days, just sick of having a problem every time.

Immaculate Pasta · 05-01-2012 10:59AM

Aah you'll be seeing no black lads in the Wesht of Ireland so you don't :cool:

Lumbo · 05-01-2012 11:05AM

I hate accountants as well.

Racist Ireland

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