IHCP Pauline Shepherd blasts appalling racist attacks in Derry’s Waterside

Ms Pauline Shepherd said: “We utterly condemn these appalling attacks. Our thoughts are with everyone targeted and their families, and we wish those injured a full recovery. No one should face violence or intimidation because of their skin colour or where they come from.

“It is deeply distressing that care workers are among those attacked. International colleagues support people in care homes and in their own homes across Northern Ireland. They are our neighbours and members of our communities, and they deserve to feel safe and welcome.”

She was speaking after three people were targeted in incidents on Sunday night. Police are investigating the incidents as racially-motivated hate crimes.

Ms. Shepherd spoke of how a recent decision to preserve a five-year settlement route for eligible care workers was a welcome recognition of their contribution.

But she stressed that vital health workers must be free to go about their day to day activities without having to run the gauntlet of attack and intimidation.

“Alongside certainty about their future, workers and their families must be able to go about their daily lives without fear of racist abuse or violence.

“Political leaders, employers and communities must stand together against racism and support those affected. We urge anyone with information about these attacks to contact the police,” said the IHCP boss as she joined condemnation of the weekend’s attacks.