'I am insulted and abused all the time in my job'

Driver Sailesh Tupsy was surrounded by five people while driving on O’Connell St last week, before his door was opened by a gang who shouted, “get out or we’ll kill you”.

They then threw punches while the shocked driver had to call control for help.

His friend and fellow bus driver Cristian Tei from Romania spoke at a vigil in solidarity with migrant workers, held on O’Connell St yesterday.

“It was very scary, people were afraid for their own life,” Mr Tei told the Irish Examiner. “I was finished early so I was home, I was one of the lucky ones, but loads of my colleagues were there and knew what happened.”

Mr Tei said while it is not easy to hijack a bus, the idea of being dragged from your driving seat has left him “deeply concerned”.

“I am insulted and abused all the time in my job.

“This is part of our job, they should put it in our job description. I am one of the lucky ones, I don’t take it personally. I hear them, and I let them go.”

Around 200 people joined the protest which took place opposite the GPO on O’Connell St at 1pm yesterday.

It was organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in response to last week’s riots.

Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha told the Irish Examiner that migrant workers are a vital part of the medical service.

“In Ireland, out of all the nurses and midwives that are registered, there is about a third from overseas,” said Ms Ní Sheaghdha.

“Many are from African countries, the Philippines and India, particularly.

“We know that we are very dependent on migrant workers. We work alongside them, we are very happy that they have made a massive contribution to the medical services, and the idea that anybody would think they are any different just because of the colour of their skin just goes against the grain, and we want that out there loud and clear.”

Dozens of people held placards during the demonstration, along with signs saying, “Dublin is peaceful” and “We support migrant workers”.

Siptu deputy general secretary Ethel Buckley said it is important that workers have the backing of their unions.

“Workers have unified in reaction to what happened last week, and people are really adamant to convey solidarity with each other,” said Ms Buckley. 

“We understand why people are angry when there is an accommodation emergency, cost-of-living crisis, and people have very low-paid jobs, but the way to channel that anger is for people to get organised with their union.”

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the riots were “predictable”.

“The response and the violence on the street, that has been coming, that has been signposted, there is a real frustration that it was able to get this far,” said Ms McDonald.

“I was on the scene at 3.30pm, it was absolutely horrific, the children and the childcare worker — I still struggle to believe that that happened.”

She said that “it was obvious a small group was gathering” even at that early time of day. “It was very menacing,” she said, with people using their phones to stir up others.

“This street was on fire, I don’t think people would ever dream they would see the likes of this.

“This can never, ever happen again. This was a tipping point; lines were crossed on Thursday and now there needs to be accountability.”