Partner of United Against Racism Wicklow co-founder suffers racist abuse

The co-founder of United Against Racism Wicklow has revealed that the racial abuse that her partner suffered recently while getting off a bus in Wicklow town left her “worried sick.”

The group was formed in early 2023 to combat the rise of the far-right in Ireland, and in response to an anti-immigration rally held in Wicklow town in November of 2022, against the Direct Provision Centre at the Grand Hotel. Bernie D’Arcy from Wicklow town is one of the founding members and the group currently boasts around 12 core members.

Bernie has been regularly inspired to speak out due to the treatment her partner has received. Ben Akhile, who is originally from Sierra Leone, has lived in Ireland for more than 18 years, but Bernie said he has suffered attacks of racial abuse regularly, including recently as she was about to leave him alone for a week to go on a charity swimming challenge.

“Ben works in a hotel and returns to Wicklow town by bus at night-time,” Bernie said. “Recently racist abuse was shouted at him as he got off the bus to go home. He wouldn’t go into much detail and he didn’t say if the person abusing him was young or old, I think because he is worried I would end up confronting them. It has happened a few times now and it leaves me frightened.

“I wanted to take part in Paddy’s 32 lakes challenge and Ben kept reassuring me that he would be fine. It’s something I really wanted to do, but I just ended up worried sick about Ben and wondering if he was okay.

“I couldn’t get any sleep while in Bagenalstown because I was so concerned about Ben. When United Against Racism Wicklow held our information day last year, one woman actually said she hoped I get raped, which really shocked me at the time, and just shows some of the racist attitudes out there you encounter.”

United Against Racism Wicklow have been busy over recent months carrying out counter-protests against recent far-right demonstrations taking place in Dublin and Carlow.

Bernie added: “We are very much aware of the hate that is out there. We held an information day in Wicklow town not long after we launched, where the reaction was mixed.

“We have been working away in the background more recently in Wicklow and have attended counter-protests against far-right and racist rallies held in Dublin and Carlow.

“It’s important to counter any hate or racism that is being spread. The far-right are a minority, but they are still there, spreading as much disinformation as they can. The counter-protests against the far-right gatherings are always much larger and better supported than the racist rallies, which is at least encouraging.”

Bernie’s swimming challenge was with infamous 83-year-old Donegal man Paddy Conaghan, who is currently continuing his third lap of Ireland ‘ducking and driving’ for charity.

Bernie caught up with him for a swim in Wicklow Harbour, her local swimming spot, and joined him for dips in Carlow, Kildare and Dublin.

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