ANNE TIMONEY,
Sir, - Accusations of racial discrimination by gardaí are reported in Nuala Haughey's report, "Gardaí accused of discrimination against two black men on train" (The Irish Times, June 7th). The allegations suggest that gardaí policing the Belfast to Dublin train service select people for immigration checks based on the colour of their skin.
As a frequent traveller through Dublin airport this comes as no surprise to me. At the airport, all incoming passengers must pass through an immigration inspection point. On each occasion I have been there in the last year or so I have witnessed the routine investigation of passengers who are black or Asian while their white, "Irish-looking" counterparts sail through immigration with barely a nod from the same officials. I have not noticed that holding an EU passport forms any sort of protection from this discrimination and harassment. Does this racism form a cornerstone of our immigration policy and practice? - Yours, etc.,
ANNE TIMONEY,
Carysfort Avenue,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.