AILEEN HOOPER,
Sir, - I read both letters regarding the perceived victimisation of non-white people on Irish trains as reported by Mr Fanning and Mr Dooley (May 11th).
When travelling in several countries, I was often the only white person on buses and trains. What was my experience? On numerous occasions, I was asked to get off to have my various identification papers checked. On other occasions, the officials boarded whatever transport I was on and scrutinised all my papers. I was the only person to whom this happened and deduced (not unreasonably) that this procedure was carried out because of my skin colour).
Bearing in mind these experiences and the joint outrage of Mr Fanning and Mr Dooley, I now realise (belatedly) that I was segregated, discriminated against by virtue of my skin colour, ethnically cleansed and victimised. And here was silly me thinking that those officials were just doing their job by checking that I was legally entitled to be in their countries. - Yours, etc.,
AILEEN HOOPER, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7.