Victim Cida Jeangros (30) says many migrant workers are living in fear of being attacked on the streets of the capital, writes Carl O'Brien Social Affairs Correspondent.
A BRAZILIAN woman who is recovering from an unprovoked assault by a group of teenagers in Dublin's north inner city at the weekend says many migrant workers are living in fear of being attacked on the streets of the capital.
Cida Jeangros (30) was attacked by a group of teenage girls and boys in Summerhill as she walked back to her rented flat in Ballybough on Friday night.
During the course of the assault she received several punches to the head, was knocked over and kicked repeatedly on the ground. The only reason she escaped more serious injuries, she says, was because she was able to run away.
Gardaí at Fitzgibbon Street station have launched an investigation into the assault.
The attack comes just weeks after two Polish men - Pawel Kalite and Marius Szwajkos - were killed after they refused to buy alcohol for some teenagers in the Dublin suburb of Drimnagh.
Ms Jeangros, who works in a gym in Temple Bar, has told The Irish Times that her friends and colleagues who have come to Ireland from abroad to find work are becoming increasingly nervous of walking the streets at night. She says verbal abuse is a regular occurrence from teenage gangs and that a number of her friends have been attacked in recent weeks.
"I was just walking along the street at around 11.30pm on Friday night with my head down. Then I saw three teenage girls and two guys. One of the girls said something to me and then punched me in the face. After than, the two guys came running at me and punched me hard in the face.
"When I fell down, they started kicking me. I started screaming very loud. I think I was hit about five times. A few times on the face. The girls and the guys were involved, while a younger girl just stood back and laughed.
"I was thinking of what happened to those Polish men. Two guys died, so anything can happen. Another Brazilian person I know was also attacked recently.
"These people who attacked me - they didn't want money or clothes or anything. It was just to hurt someone for pleasure."
She says she managed to get to her feet and run the short distance to the apartment block where she lives with her husband.
After reporting the assault to local gardaí, she was brought to the Mater hospital where she was treated for her injuries.
However, while waiting for a doctor, three separate fights erupted which were eventually broken up by gardaí.
Ms Jeangros, who has been living in Ireland for the last 18 months, says the only reason she will remain in Ireland is to finish an English course over the coming months.
She is on sabbatical from her job as an executive with the car firm Peugeot in Sao Paulo.
Her experiences in Ireland are in contrast to what she says is the safe reputation the country has abroad.
"For me, I have always thought of Europe as a safe place, but since I have come here, I've had many problems on the streets, especially with teenagers. This is really surprising for me.
"I have often felt nervous on the street, but I will never walk here again. I will take buses or taxis if I have to. I have not left the apartment since Friday night - it is too dangerous."
"My experience in Ireland has been very bad - in most parts of the city. When I talk to older people, they are very nice, I love to talk to them. But young people, I don't like talking to them because they are aggressive. This is not a safe place."
Gardaí say they will study CCTV footage in the area as part of their investigation into the assault.