00:00
It's Ireland's most talked about podcast, the only podcast with live callers and live debates. It's Opinions Matter with Adrian and Katie.
00:11
You're very welcome to this latest Opinions Matter podcast with Adrian and Katie recorded live at our studio at the White Sands Hotel in Port Marnock in North County, Dublin. Now, what do we want to talk about on this latest episode of the podcast? Well, we got a letter in from a lady who wants to be known just as Annie. Annie is not her real name, but that's what we are calling her. And just to put this into context, myself and Katie are involved in a radio show that we do every morning on radio station LMFM in the Northeast.
00:54
This morning on our show, we had an interview with a woman from Navin about the chronic racist abuse that she is experiencing at the hands of neighbours in the Navin area. Anyhow, on the back of that, this lady, Annie, contacted us here at the podcast. Now, the interview that we did was on the radio station, but she contacted us here at the podcast, Opinions Matter. With a very similar story.
01:25
Have a listen to this. Hi Adrian. I live in Dublin and I am from Kenya and live in Ireland over 12 years. My husband died in 2017 after getting very sick. So I am on my own with my children. I am contacting to ask you if you can help me, please. I can't stay living here and I need a transfer to a new home. My children can't play on the road because Irish children put their hands on them and call us bad names.
01:57
They call my children the monkeys and they throw bananas at them. They throw stones at us and at my car. My children cannot play with other children on the road and they are afraid to go outside because other children hurt them. They tell us to go home to our country. They throw things at my home and tell me they hate me and want me to die and they want my children to die. Jesus.
02:22
We cannot take any more and this has to stop. I've asked the council to move me to a new home for safety and we were told there is nothing they can do. We cannot live like this. Please help me. We are all so scared. It is children and adults. What can I do to get a transfer before something really bad happens? We've had enough now. And that's from a lady that we're calling Annie. Now, Annie isn't her name, as I said, but we'll refer to her as Annie for this portion of the conversation.
02:55
Now, Katie, when we got that message, you immediately contacted Annie. What did you get out of her?
03:02
So basically what she's living with is horrific. She sent the video that you saw, the video of the kids shouting at her kids. First of all, I want to call out people on Facebook, everyone saying, you know, prove it. You know, is she telling the truth? If that was a white person, you wouldn't be asking that, would they? Would they?
03:22
My kids are being picked on. The neighbours are horrible to us. They throw stones at our house. But we happen to be white. Would anybody have an issue? People would say, yeah, she probably should be rehoused.
03:33
No, that's not what I asked.
03:34
What did you ask?
03:34
I said that if anybody, if this was an Irish person, then you wouldn't have people question the validity of the story.
03:42
Oh, sorry, whether or not this is a true story or not. So I looked there on the Facebook. Okay, so sorry, you did speak to Annie. I did. That's not her name.
03:48
That's not her name.
03:49
Annie lives where?
03:51
In Balbrigan.
03:52
In Balbrigan. Balbrigan, yeah. And she lives in a council house in Balbrigan, is that correct?
03:58
And basically, she basically said to me, I can't go out my front door without having to check first to see if they're outside. Things are that bad. And it's not just the kids, but her main concern is her kids because any parent listening will know that obviously your priority is always going to be your kids no matter what. You know, you can take the bullshit yourself, but when your kids are involved, it's different. And she's ultimately saying she's asked the council for a transfer and the council have more or less basically said, you know, well, kids almost kind of downplaying it.
04:30
She felt that, you know, almost like it's it's just kids being kids kind of thing.
04:37
Regardless how you feel about immigrants or immigration or anything like that, just remember, lads, these are children. These are innocent children who have done absolutely nothing wrong here. They're kids who are just trying to go out and play and go to school.
04:54
Just to put into context...
04:56
They put their hands on my children. They call us bad names. They call my children monkeys and throw bananas at them. They throw stones at us and at my car.
05:06
And basically all this woman is saying is we can't live like this anymore. We need to be rehomed. We need to be moved.
05:13
She told me that her eight-year-old came in one day crying and said, Mammy, I'm sick of this. I want to die.
05:19
Jesus.
05:20
Because the child... Now, look, I'm just relaying what I was told here.
05:27
Because things are... So, before anyone starts coming to it, oh, go home, and all these people, all these morons... And that's the answer from a load of people. Go home.
05:34
If you don't like it here, go home.
05:36
You can have your stance on immigration, you can have your concerns about immigration, but...
05:41
somebody who's been harassed and targeted and intimidated by somebody, the answer to that shouldn't be that they have to up and run. The answer shouldn't be that they should have to go home. So what is it? Take it on the chin and shut up or go home or go back to Kenya? That's not right. That is not right.
05:54
Because reading a lot of the comments, a lot of the comments that have come in to us since we put up this post earlier, where go home to where you came from. If you don't like it here, tough. So my answer to those people who've been saying that is... If you don't like being racially abused, then tough. That's literally what people are saying. If you don't like it, then tough.
06:15
In a nutshell, yeah.
06:16
If you don't like the house that you've been given, tough. So really what you're saying is, if you don't accept being racially abused, tough.
06:23
Let me find this comment here. So...
06:27
So Emma Jackson there on Facebook, right? So I messaged Emma. Hey Emma, do you want to come on with those comments? Haven't heard back yet. Don't think I will. So what's it Emma is saying here?
06:38
Get up and leave yourself. You've stopped depending on social welfare. Fuck off bringing race into this. They invaded our country. Sorry Emma, so because these people are black, that's okay then that their children are called monkeys and have bananas thrown at them.
06:49
That's what I just said. If you don't like the racial abuse, well then tough. That's really what they're saying.
06:53
Let's check out...
06:56
I mean that's what you're dealing with. Look at that.
07:00
Yeah, anyway, 085-825-2626 is our WhatsApp number. The question we're asking is, does this woman, Annie, and her three children, do they deserve to be rehomed? They are housed in council property. By the way, they have been granted citizenship. Isn't that right?
07:19
Sorry, Adrian, just don't play that voice note because the person who played the voice note you were going to play is actually messaging since hearing the story and saying that he revokes what he had initially said. So can you just not play that?
07:28
Oh, okay. Right. So he's changed.
07:31
Which one? That top one there? K. There's two Ks. There's two.
07:36
Bottom one.
07:37
Don't play that one. No. Okay. 085-825-2626 is our WhatsApp number. Let's get straight into this with Ciarán.
07:48
Look, there seems to be enough evidence there to bring to both the Gardaí and to the council.
07:58
But unfortunately, if you're going to rely on the Gardaí to do anything about it, very little will be done.
08:06
from the council I would think it would be a similar story and even if they do something and move you on the same thing is going to happen again that's what happens in this country when you know because while there are people who are very welcoming there will always be racist bigots it's the society we live in and unfortunately it seems there's very little you can do about it opinions matter
08:37
A daily podcast from Ireland about opinions.
08:41
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09:13
Annie lives in Balbriggan with her three children. She's originally from Kenya, has been living in Ireland over 12 years. Herself and her children now have Irish citizenship and have been granted leave to stay in this country.
09:27
So to all intents and purposes, they are now Irish citizens. They are housed in council accommodation in Balbriggan. and the racial abuse of their suffering day in and day out has made Annie want to move, has made Annie want to get out of there. You can't blame her.
09:49
Okay, let's give people a taster for the kind of reaction, the bullshit that has come in. Remember, guys, this is about three children, age two, age six or seven, she said, and age ten, all right? Three children, okay? Go and find a rented place for yourself.
10:06
another one just says prove it if that was a white person it wouldn't racism from blacks against the Irish that does happen what does that have to do with Annie's story anything to get money and a free house would make you sick all the homeless we have here she should be happy she's not on the streets so again what I'm hearing here is my kids must take abuse because I'm being housed I have to shut up and put up and I can't say anything about it from Annie's perspective and people are basically saying put up with her or go home
10:35
And that's literally what they're saying. That is literally what they're saying. And as we said, turn this story on its head, and this is a woman called Mary, and Mary and her three kids live in Balbrigan, but Mary was born and reared in Balbrigan. Everybody would be saying, that's disgraceful that she's putting up with abuse.
10:56
And on the Facebook page, well, fuck off and go home. Someone else. Send her home. Send you with her, you woke leftover. Yeah.
11:03
Well done, buddy. It must have taken about an hour to write that line there, your spelling. You didn't even get it right.
11:09
There's just, there are so many bullshit comments here. Do you know what, though? Do you know what is refreshing? The majority of people aren't arseholes.
11:19
Oh, someone said, someone said, we put a picture of the child's arm up with scratches. That looks like cat scratches. Kenya is a safe country. Who said she's here seeking asylum? At what point in the conversation was it said that she was here seeking asylum? Kenya is a safe country. So what? She may not be here seeking asylum.
11:34
And we actually don't know her backstory other than she is from Kenya. She's here over 12 years. And she and her children have been granted Irish citizenship. So they've been granted leave to stay here.
11:45
Actually, this person has actually sent their number.
11:49
So will you read out Gareth's message, please?
11:51
Should be lucky enough to have a house while tens of thousands of Irish are homeless. Now, that's fine. That's fine. I get people have concerns about immigration. But the last two words, ungrateful fucks.
12:02
Right, Gareth. Yeah.
12:05
So somebody who is being racially abused and their three children are being racially abused day in and day out, having bananas thrown at them, having stones thrown at their car, are ungrateful fucks.
12:20
Yes, so there's not plenty of Irish people who have children who get abused daily and etc. And they don't have houses, etc. So they are ungrateful fucks.
12:33
Ungrateful folks for not putting up with daily racist abuse. That's how you describe this mother and her three children.
12:41
These are also kids, by the way, ranging from two to ten.
12:44
Another kid. It happens to plenty of Irish people as well. Am I wrong? Am I right?
12:48
Okay, so would your opinion be that, well, the mother should kind of say to herself, then, well, we have a house here, there's plenty that don't. We should really just shut up and take this.
12:55
Yeah, how many thousands of people, how many thousands of Irish people are homeless? How many thousands of Irish kids are homeless?
13:01
I understand and I agree. Hold on a second.
13:08
grateful they have a fucking roof over their head hang on you should be grateful in all circumstances having bananas thrown at you being called a fucking monkey you just have to put up with that is that what you're saying if you have a house in this day and age you're lucky enough to have a house in this day and age I get that I do get that point and on that point I do agree we have a massive problem with immigration in this country we have a huge problem and I won't take that away from you
13:36
But to say ungrateful fucks because they call out racism and intimidation on her children. Do you have kids, Gareth? Oh, I do. And if you saw little fuckers, excuse my French, out the front of your house throwing stones at your kids, let's say one of your kids had something wrong with them. Let's say one of your children had a disability, something they can't help, by the way, something they're born with. And there was some horrible little bastard at the front of the house throwing stones at them and calling them names, calling them horrible, horrible, horrible derogatory or racist or discriminatory terms, whatever you want to put on it. Are you honestly telling me you would say, say nothing?
14:09
Say nothing? As a parent, when you see your child, as a parent, there's nothing more hurtful than seeing your child hurt, yeah? So do you honestly believe that in this situation, if you were this woman to see people doing this to your kids, to terrifying your kids to the point that they don't want to leave the house? Are you honestly telling me that your opinion will be, well, I have a house. So, you know, I'm not going to rock the box. They can just take it and shut up. Take it, take it and get on with it.
14:32
Yeah, they don't like to let them leave the country, plain and simple.
14:35
No, but Katie's actually turning this on you. And if you were living in a council house and your child was being abused out on the street, you're saying you'd be grateful to have that council house and just put up and shut up.
14:49
In this day and age, yeah, when there's so many thousands of homeless Irish children, women, men. Sorry, just Chloe. Dying on the street. Dying, hold on a minute. Dying on the street. These are being housed before the Irish, right? They were on the house in this tens of years, right? And these are being put in houses first, before anybody. So you're saying... No, I get your anger.
15:11
I get his anger about that. I get your anger about that, but nobody has to put up with abuse. And for, you know, Chloe Messon was there, Katie, say allegedly, Chloe, I know what the legalities are doing a broadcast like this, thanks. I've been doing it for 20 years. Like, allegedly. I saw the videos. Again, this is people making out that... Oh, this is all being made up?
15:27
Like, if it was white, you wouldn't... Chloe, can I just let you know that that lady Annie did actually send us a video that she videoed from her bedroom window before she ran out the front door of her children being abused outside. We can't post that video because there are minors in that video, but we have seen that video with our own two eyes. So we have proof. We have seen with our own two eyes. The only reason I... I wanted to post it only it was so hard to blur out all the faces and you can't if I posted a video like that of minors we'd be down the courts we'd be sued so that's why the video hasn't gone anywhere but we have seen the video we've seen it with our own two eyes and her kids are being harassed on the street and then she ran out and by the time she got out to the kids the other kids had literally surrounded Annie's two younger middle kids
16:20
Gareth, can I ask you how old your kids are? Yeah, she's 13. 13. Have you ever rocked her to sleep saying she wants to die because the kids on the road are making her life so hard?
16:27
Have I ever what?
16:28
Rocked her to sleep because she wants to die because the kids on the road are making her life so hard. Have you ever had to rock her to sleep because...
16:35
I see the way you were saying there's plenty of people with disabilities or whatever like that or there's something wrong with them. Do they not get abused as well? What... or a day. They're white Irish people as well. Hang on, the point that Katie is making is it's wrong. But that doesn't make it right. It happens to white Irish people as well. Not those ethnic minorities who are being held. The fourth point is So I said, they are ungrateful folks. They should be happy with what they have.
17:03
And then the same would apply to a white Irish woman with three kids, one of whom is being disabled, hang on, and is being picked on on the street. You're saying to that woman, tough shit, sorry for your troubles with your disabled child, but you should be grateful you have a house. Happens all over Ireland. Oh, so... Do it or do it or not.
17:23
Okay, so you're telling me that if there was a little boy, let's say... Do it or do it or not happen all over Ireland. That doesn't make it right. Do you know what? Let's just let... Let's go to Anya. Anya is the mother of a child who... I think the child's father is African. So let's go to Anya. Let's get Anya's input into this.
17:38
Well, Anya, what did you want to say on this?
17:40
I'm actually...
17:44
You all right? I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
17:46
Go on, Anya.
17:47
I'm so sorry. I'm really, I'm so sorry. Don't be apologizing. I am actually, I'm actually second to me stomach.
17:58
Of that cunt, Garrett. I really, really am. I'm absolutely seconded to my stomach.
18:05
And I'm going to quote what Garrett said. And Garrett said, and by the way, he's not racially profiling here. He's saying this to everybody. If you are in a council house and you are either being racially abused and bullied or you're just being bullied because you've got a disability, he basically said, tough shit, you should be grateful to have the house. What do you say to that?
18:28
He's a cunt.
18:29
He's an absolute cunt. You're a cunt. You're an absolute cunt. You're an absolute cunt.
18:43
hang on hang on hang on hang on hang on hang on hang on sorry Adrian do you know what I want to say this to you Garrett I actually feel sorry for your kids I really really do I feel sorry for your kids I feel sorry for you me me I'm not the one that's I'm not the one that's a fucking racist I'm not the one that's a fucking racist, Garrett. Saying that woman should live with what she has to be putting up with.
19:12
You're calling me racist now, are you? You're calling me racist, family, are you? Yeah, I am. Yeah, I am calling you racist.
19:18
Because not only that you're a fucking racist, Garrett, you're a fucking coward. Because Katie asked you multiple times... Katie asked you multiple times, should the woman and her three children have to put up with the abuse?
19:36
Okay, hang on, I can't hear both of you. Gareth, this woman has been on hold while we were talking to you, and she is, as you can hear, fucking fuming with you.
19:46
Now, Anya has spoken to us in the past, and Anya, you have spoken to us very bravely and openly in the past about your fear...
19:55
as the mother of a child who is black, you have spoken very openly about your fear, about what the future looks like. So I can't even imagine, as a mother myself, what it must be like to fear for your child, for their safety and for the bullshit that they are going to face in 10, 15, 20 years from arsehole racists. And I'm not talking about you, Garrett. And actually, Garrett, I will go as far as to say that I do agree with your fundamental point in your concerns about immigration. So people meshing in saying we're the government's puppets and all this, the government propaganda. Stop with the bullshit. That's not the case. This is three children who are being abused and harassed and intimidated.
20:29
But back to the point anyway, Anya, I can't, like I said, imagine what it must be like for you as a mother to hear the comments like I've read out today. People saying they can fuck off home. They should have to put up with it because... You must feel like this is this is my son. Is my son going to have to put up with this shit?
20:46
Yeah. Yeah. And I want to also say the family in Balbrigan that are going through this, this like there's there really is no there is no words.
20:59
There is no... You heard what Gareth said, and by the way, he didn't just apply it to black kids, he applied it to anybody.
21:08
You should be grateful in 2026 to have a house, so put up and shut up, basically.
21:13
So what Gareth is also saying as well, Adrian, is... Put the rest of it on. Put the rest of it on. I just said that.
21:22
I just said that. I just said that. Listen, open your ears there. I did say that. Ears are open. So you should be grateful to have a house in this day and age. That's what he said.
21:33
Yeah. Yeah. And so should that family be tormented the way they have been? Should those three innocent children should be racially abused day in and day out and fearing for their lives? And as Katie was after turning around and saying at the start of the show, she was speaking with that... Hang on, Adrian...
21:58
She was speaking with the mother of those children. And one of those children, an eight-year-old child, said that he wanted to die because he was sick and tired of being racially abused by these fucking... Do you know what? I'm actually ashamed to call myself Irish. Half the time. That doesn't make a right.
22:26
It doesn't make a right. This lady... Hang on for one second. This lady wants a transfer because...
22:37
Every single day, she and her children are being racially abused to the point that, as you just heard from Anya, her eight-year-old kid told her recently she wants to die. Now, please tell me that that is something that you shouldn't have to put up with. You should not have to put up with that.
22:53
Nobody should have to put up with a shirt. There's kids being bullied out on the street and they want to die as well. It happens to everybody. It doesn't matter if they're black, white, yellow, green, orange.
23:03
It happens to everybody. It doesn't happen to everybody, Gareth. It happens to the majority of the blacks. It happens to the majority of the mixed race. Mixed race and the blacks. As Katie said, my son is mixed race. My son's father is Nigerian. He has been living here for 16 years now, so he has.
23:30
And as you said, Anya, when you hear conversations like this, you fear for your own child's future.
23:37
Oh, 100 percent, Adrian, 100 percent.
23:39
My heart genuinely hurts for you, Anya, because it's a fear for any parent, you know, their child growing up in a world where there's assholes, so many assholes. But when you throw on the fact that unfortunately there are racist little bastards going around like the kids in Balbrigg and these little kids in Balbrigg. And I wouldn't usually talk about kids like that, but let's go spade a spade. My heart hurts for you because I can't imagine that worry when he's going to school and stuff.
24:02
When it's already so hard for a parent, you know, when their kids take that step of independence, they're going out into the world, and you can't be behind them all the time. But I just hope that it's 2026 now. I'd like to think we're getting better, judging by today's conversation. I'm not so sure that's true, but I'd like to think... that things will change. I mean, the mentality will... Like, people have to remember, we're talking about kids here, and that's the... We're not talking... This isn't a topic on immigration. This is a topic on racism. What is happening to these kids? It's not immigration concerns. It's not about immigration. It is about racism.
24:33
Let's call it out for what it is.
24:35
Yeah, but everybody turns this conversation, as well, you know, into a conversation about immigration. I'm happy to have a conversation about immigration. Because the argument here is... If you were back in Nigeria, you wouldn't be experiencing this. That's really the argument. That's really what they're saying.
24:49
I'm happy to have a conversation about immigration because I said before, I do think we have an immigration problem. Look at the schools, look at the hospitals, look at everything. I do think we need to start, you know, looking at what's coming in and with the numbers that are coming in and looking at deporting some and getting Ireland right. But that does not mean that anybody has the right to treat any foreign national or any asylum seeker or refugee like that.
25:10
let me bring in more opinions on this this is Lorraine he's the definition of a professional fucking victim yeah there is Irish that's homeless but fucking come on if that was an Irish family you'd be on here going absolutely batshit crazy wouldn't you Gareth you absolute dickhead
25:27
It's the Opinions Matter podcast with Adrian Kennedy and Jeremy Dixon. A podcast from Ireland with a difference.
25:33
Joseph, you're on Opinions Matter. How are you, Joseph?
25:37
Oh, Adrian, I am absolutely fuming. Anya, can I just apologise on behalf of the people of Ireland for the comments?
25:44
Anya's gone, but I'm texting her here now. She's all right. Naturally, Joseph, she's very upset.
25:50
She used her words that I was very rarely used, but I have to say it is applicable to that guy. I won't mention it again, but my God, I would go as far as saying this.
26:01
The onus is on the council to rehome the family. Absolutely. If they can't, what they should do, and I would love to see this, get rid of the Irish family. Get rid of the racist folks out of that council estate or wherever they may be. If she can prove it, go to the council, go to the Gardaí, do what needs to be done. Get the Irish family out and let the Kenyans stay where they are. It is absolutely disgraceful. Or the council could put them, maybe they can get a percentage of social and affordable housing, put them in a nice estate where it's not council and people that are scrounging off the state, people that have actually bought houses and there might just be a better standard of living for them.
26:38
I hope that something occurs for them.
26:40
OK, so the lady's name is Annie and Annie contacted us, as you know, to highlight the abuse that she and her children put up with day in and day out. And you're saying that the council has a duty of care to to re-home this family and if necessary, re-home them in a nicer area.
27:02
Absolutely. Absolutely. And if they can't do that, get rid of the family that are causing them their torment and their turmoil and put them out on their arse. I would rather see that Kenyan family live nicely and comfortably in Palbrigan and see the Irish family on their arse. Racists. Like that, what, you're throwing bananas at the kids, calling them monkeys. I mean, God, they're children. We're talking about here. This is the Ireland they're growing up in. It's so sad to see. It really is. And I was looking at my phone while listening to this show and while that Egypt was talking and the amount of comments, guys, on your Facebook that are agreeing with him.
27:40
It's just... It is so, so sad.
27:43
We put up the post earlier on, as we always do, Joseph. Before we take to Facebook for our live show, which we do every day, we pop up a post on our Facebook page explaining what our topic of conversation is today. And we did exactly that. We posted a copy of not only Annie's message to us, but also... The photograph of the bruises on one of her children's arms.
28:12
And the reaction from people was, where's the proof?
28:15
I'm sorry, just to say.
28:16
Go home to where you came from. All of this sort of thing.
28:19
Just to say to Gareth there, because he's getting a hard time and, you know, yeah, he deserves it. But he's done something that most people who are hiding behind their keyboards aren't doing. He did come on. And voice his opinion. And when he was slated for it. So, you know, credit where credit's due. I didn't think he would come on and he did come on. But for people messaging, like I said, saying the government propaganda and stuff, we get it, don't we? You said before in this podcast, immigration, the concerns people have.
28:46
I get the concerns.
28:47
about immigration but I don't believe that those concerns of immigration into into picking on little kids yeah and that's what can everyone who's married remember this is these are three children and also guys can I just point out it's the assumption that they are asylum seekers purely based on the colour of their skin that's racist in and of itself This woman is probably working for a living, raising her kids, got herself a home in Balbrigan, thankfully, working all the hours God sends her to put food on the table.
29:21
And this is the shit she's got to deal with. It is so unfair. It's not right. The onus is on the council to either rehome or get rid of that family.
29:29
One of the things that Gareth was saying, Joseph, is we are in a housing crisis. She should be grateful to have a house.
29:37
Listen, we're all grateful to have roofs over our heads, but that doesn't give anyone the right to hurl abuse. There are Irish people living in council estates that aren't happy with their house because it's just not nice enough. It's just not big enough. They could do with an extra room or two and they go to the council begging as well. This woman is suffering racist abuse every day. Her children are being directly affected. by this she has every bloody right as an Irish citizen as you rightly pointed out earlier on to ask the council for a bit of help absolutely don't forget the kids are learning this from somewhere you know they're picking it up somewhere kids my kids would never speak like that because they've never been exposed to that kind of language or ideology So these kids are obviously hearing this at home.
30:25
When it comes to counter estates, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in that regard. They're only learning it somewhere. So we can point this even approaching the parents on this matter.
30:35
Okay, Joseph, stay with me for a second. Sean, you wanted to get in on this. What did you want to say?
30:39
Lads, I have just two things. This is not only happening to black people or foreigners. I know in Irish family that their son is getting abused and attacked every time he goes to the local park by Romanian kids. And they've done the same. They went to the council and the council told them they can't do that. So it's not just being done on blacks.
30:57
Hang on. And that's fine. That's dreadful to hear. Do you not think that the council should be saying, leave it with us. Let's see if we can get you a transfer because you shouldn't have to put up with that shit.
31:09
But this is the problem because these people are getting rehab. As I said, this girl is living in the country 12 years. I'm born and bred in the country. I'm on the housing list over 20 years. I have a seven-year-old child and I'm still not even being mentioned for a house. So it's very frustrating to hear these stories. You hear these stories of a girl in the country only 12 years. I'm on the housing list over eight years longer than she's in the country and I haven't been housed. So how is she being housed ahead of people? And I said this on your podcast a couple of months ago that it's going to make racism worse the way the government and the council are running things by housing these people ahead of the Irish.
31:43
It's only a matter of time. I've said this to you hundreds of times on my podcast.
31:46
Again, Sean. And I'd like to say another thing. This is this girl from Balbriggan.
31:51
Hold on. This girl is from Balbriggan. Now, as far as I know, and you all know, we call Balbriggan Blackbriggan. So how is it from Irish people up there that's doing it on her? And I don't believe that there's bananas being thrown at the kids. Let's be quite honest with you here. I think she's thrown a few Japanese imports there. I don't believe it's going to be bananas thrown at them. And I also believe, as I said, the most of Balbriggan is covered by black people, not white Irish people.
32:14
Hang on. Firstly, Sean, that's not true. There is a significant black population.
32:19
Where did the name come from? Black Brigham came from the most of the families up there are coloured. I'm not racist. Have you been up there, Adrian?
32:28
Yes, I was only there yesterday. And yes, there are a lot of black families in Balbrigan, but it's not the entire population. Majority are black. No, it's not a majority. It's not a majority. No, no, no, Casey, this is important. Yes, Balbrigan. No, it is important. Hang on, hang on, wait, Sean. This is important. Yes, Balbrigan has been given the nickname Black Brigan because there are quite a few black families. But by no stretch of the imagination is it the majority of the population in Balbrigan, OK?
32:56
But are you telling me that wasn't one of them black children, not one of them kids that supposedly throwing bananas at them? OK, Sean, you're telling me the video that you've seen is all white kids, you're telling me, is it? In the video that we saw, yes. Yes, all white kids, yeah. Absolutely. I find that very hard to believe boys and girls.
33:13
If I had to post a video, Sean, I would. And I understand your frustration about the house. I actually agree that that is disgraceful that somebody who's here and on the housing list, obviously for a shorter time, would be housed before you. That is disgraceful. So who do you blame?
33:25
Do you blame the government and the council because of what they're doing?
33:28
And it's the government and the council that is making people racism. OK, the only thing I will say, when it comes to the council housing list, people get bumped up the list based on different preferences and different criteria. So, for example, you said a while ago, Sean, you've one child. This lady has three. So she would be higher up the council housing list.
33:50
Hold on Adrian If I brought my If I brought my child Into a hostel For six months I'd be housed Why should I have to Put my son into a hostel No you shouldn't have to You shouldn't have to Exactly But these people Are just coming in And getting housed It doesn't make sense And I said on your podcast I'm on your podcast I've said on your podcast before What's going on In the country now At the minute Is making people More racist because of what's going on. So who do you blame? You've got to blame the government and you've got to blame the council.
34:16
Okay, Joseph, do you want to get back in on that? So he has one child. You're bang on in your assessment there, Adrian. The council housing list is based on need, not length of time you've been on it.
34:27
Hold on, I've been on band two for 10 years and now I'm band one. This is a man with one child. If these people weren't coming into the country. And what? So what? Because I only have one child, there shouldn't be houses. Is that what you're trying to say, Jonathan?
34:38
Well, let me guess. You're looking for a lovely three-bedroom. A lovely three-bed house for yourself.
34:43
I'd be happy with a one-bedroom apartment. How about you go and talk and work for everyone else?
34:46
It's a scrounger.
34:48
I look at you, you posh cunt Bet you don't live anywhere around it This is the problem You're actually picking blacks over Irish You're a sick person I'm a sick person Yeah, because you're saying You'd rather throw the Irish families out And they're house blacks That's what you said about 10 minutes ago Oh, hang on for a second You're a man with one child
35:07
I assume, is there a partner? Is there someone else working? Is there two salaries coming in to be the child?
35:13
No, I'm a single parent and I should have a two-bedroom house because my son's at an age now where he should have his own room. He shouldn't be living in a box room with me, in a bed with me at seven years of age. So how big of a need do I need?
35:24
What do I have to do to get it? You're looking for a two-bedroom house. Is that what you're telling me? No, no, no. You're lying. No, no, no. You're hoping to pay for it.
35:32
I'd be happy with a one-bedroom house for you. Okay, Sean, I want to ask you the question. This woman who is being abused in Balbrigan, okay?
35:41
Let's take her story at face value.
35:42
She shouldn't be re-housed. She shouldn't be re-housed.
35:44
No, that's my honest opinion. Okay, she should just have to put up with it. Is that it?
35:48
Well, ring the guards. Get the guards involved. But the guards are not going to do it. So what else do you want to do? Where's she going? And who's to say wherever she gets re-housed, it's not going to happen there and again. And then she's going to look for another transfer. Like, what the fuck? You can't keep doing this, boy. And this is what I said just before. I actually do. I agree with you on that Sean I do agree with you because where does it end then you know something has to be done I agree with you she's in by breaking out she's in by breaking out she gets moved to Finglas and it happens in Finglas oh I don't want to move I want to move out of Finglas I want to go to Cabra I want to go to what does she want Okay, but hang on.
36:23
Hang on, Sean. She wants something. I know the kids are being bullied.
36:27
That's the point.
36:28
Yeah, but it's happening to those kids as well. As I just explained to you, I know a family that are getting bullied for a Romanian. And there's nothing they're doing about it. But they should be doing something about that as well. They should. That's the point.
36:41
Let's spin up a topic one day about the council and how the council, as I said, the council won't release any figures of Anne. They won't do Anne. They're being puppets for the government. That's all it is. And it's the council and the government that are making this country more racist because, as I said to you loads of times, the more people that come into the country and get housed before their own, it's going to make our own more racist. And we are never known as a racist country, but it's getting a lot worse in the last four or five years. That's just on the podcast.
37:07
Joseph, what do you say to that? It is public policy that is turning people racist. That's really what I'm hearing from Sean here.
37:13
No, I think the racism has always been in the underbelly of Irish society. And maybe, yes, with the point there, it might have brought it out a bit more uncertainty. But...
37:24
But it's remarkable to me. I go to put a question to Sean. Would you rather see that Kenyan family stay put and the Irish family out on their arse? How would you feel about that?
37:38
No, I wouldn't like to see any family losing a house. I wouldn't like to see any family losing a house and being put on the street because I know what it's like to live rough. And it's not nice, especially when you have a kid. So I wouldn't like to see any family. But as I say, she has a roof over her head. And next time the kids come and bully her or so on, do what you're meant to do. Ring the police. Get the police involved. If they're not doing that, well, then what can you do? You're going to, as you agree, Katie agreed with me, she keeps getting moved to different towns, different places. And it happens again. Where do you finish it with it? Where does it end?
38:07
It ends when racism ends. People in this country... Well, that's not going to end any time. Sorry, lads.
38:12
The truth is that the government is to blame here for all of this.
38:16
Exactly. And I'm trying to say this, the last seven months on your podcast, since we've taken in so many immigrants and are getting housed before our own, Irish people have toned racism on them. And that's not our problem. It's because we'll get an overlook for houses. As I said, I'm on a house in this 20 years. The girl is only in the country 12 years. She has a lovely three, four bedroom house in Bad Brigham. I get your point and I get your anger. So why don't we do a podcast on the council and the government and bring it to them, a petition, because that's the problem. I'm sick of having this argument, which is, it's the same thing. But again, again, Sean, no.
38:47
you are saying sean you are whether you realize it or not you are saying what was said uh by gareth and that that is pretty much is uh if this is what you're trying to use are trying to make it out when we open them out and that's the problem it's like the far left far right you can't open them out anymore and you're being told are you far right because we're saying that no sorry sean i actually i take Okay, I understand you. You said it's about four points on this podcast and I agree with you. We have got a big problem.
39:17
Another podcast I've said before about I hate this labelling of the far right or the far left, the far left and far right, far right, particularly the far right.
39:25
We're going 47 years of age and I've never heard it. I've only heard of far right and far left in the last four or five years. Up until then when I was growing up, I've never heard of far left or far right.
39:37
I believe that as soon as anyone says anything about immigration, that immediately there is this perception that you're a racist.
39:46
You can't say on anymore.
39:47
Okay, but Katie, the bottom line is that a lot of people, as you said to yourself, from that post originally, from our original post, people automatically said, get back to where you came from, tough shit, shut up and put up. That's the...
40:02
But there's a difference between what is blatant racism and that's blatant racism and people concerning... Like Sean's anger there. I mean, I don't think anybody would say that he's wrong to be pissed off about the situation. I would be pissed off. But there is this idea that as soon as someone says something about immigration in any way negative or...
40:22
asks you know you know says they're in any way concerned or that there should be a curb or anything there's a difference between yeah but letting that concern then turn into tough shit fuck off back to Africa Sean hasn't been I wouldn't consider what Sean has just been saying has been racist
40:37
085-825-2626 is our WhatsApp number. Patricia.
40:42
Hi, guys. Great topic. Although I have to say I'm fairly disgusted about what's being said there, the comments that are coming in and that guy, Garrett in particular, to hear that lady going through that with our three children and then that with our lady, Anya, on the phone. I mean, I can't fathom how people think. What the hell has skin colour got to do with anything? I mean, do people really focus on that? I just can't fathom it. I don't know. Maybe I was brought up differently. I was always brought up. My dad told me there's no distinction between anybody.
41:12
We're all equal, regardless of religion, sexuality, creed, colour, whatever. We're all equal. And you treat people the way you want to be treated.
41:20
That's been my stance. I'm 45 years of age and I do exactly the same with my children. I just don't understand it. And the language and the...
41:28
Not necessarily like bad language, but the vocabulary that's coming out of that Garrett's mouth. I really do feel sorry for his children. But a father like that, I mean, what chance do they have? Honest to God, I'm absolutely disgusted with what's being said here. I can't believe it. I mean, 2026 and people still have that mentality. It's absolutely shocking.
41:49
Opinions Matter. Opinions Matter.
41:51
With Adrian Kennedy and Jeremy Dixon. A daily podcast from Ireland about opinions.
41:56
Lots of opinions flying in on this, like Jonathan.
41:59
Good afternoon, Katie and Adrian. Good topic. It's absolutely shocking what's happening to that lady and her kids. Absolutely fucking disgusting by all accounts. And I don't think the council are going to move her. But again, it goes back to the way that this government has dealt with immigration in this country. And what's really, really sad about the whole thing is this is going to continue to happen if not get worse going forward. Because again, like I said this before, most people in this country didn't agree with the immigration policy in this country.
42:25
And all the anger now is seeping down into people's children and it's coming out in all the wrong ways. Like I said to you before, we have to put the people in charge of the immigration system in this country and hold them accountable. individual people on the ground should not be getting assaulted or name called or beaten up or any of that stuff. She's way bigger than this lady. And I do feel for hoarding her kids and I hope that she does get assaulted. So have a great show.
42:48
All right, Jonathan, James, you're on Opinions Matter. You there, James?
42:53
I don't think she should be rehoused. I really, really don't. There's plenty of Irish people out there, kids included, that are on the streets with no home to go to.
43:02
Um, she's saying all this about people bullying her and bullying her kids. Where's all the proof? Where's the paper from ringing the police? Hang on.
43:12
Firstly, James, we have seen a video, uh, that, that lady sent into us. I can do nothing with that video because there's minors in the video, but I've seen a video of my own two eyes. Okay. Now, secondly, uh, If I was telling you a story, and this is the really annoying part of this conversation. If I was telling you a story of a white Irish woman from Balbrigan who's being picked on by all the neighbours and her kids are being picked on, you wouldn't bat an eyelid but to say, that's dreadful, she should be rehoused.
43:43
So why the difference?
43:44
It happens to everyone. Absolutely everyone happens to you. You go into many council safety costs and many people and a lot of them will face issues. But guess what? The council won't move them to anywhere else. And people know that's the truth. There's plenty of Irish people out there who can't live safely in their homes and the council won't transfer them out. So why should she get priority and why should she get somewhere in a nicer area as Joseph said, in a nicer area and to fuck the Irish people out?
44:09
She's not necessarily saying she deserves priority. She just wants to be looked after and moved.
44:15
Her kids were actually born in Ireland.
44:18
The Irish want priority as well.
44:19
James, her kids are Irish. They were born in Ireland. They were born in Dublin. They're from Kenya from 12 years ago. No, no, sorry. She's from Kenya. The children were born in Ireland.
44:28
Well, she still, I don't understand why she should get a priority. Do you know what I mean? There's plenty of Irish waiting to be housed. I'm waiting this years and years and years.
44:35
Oh, listen, nobody's disagreeing with you on that. Nobody's disagreeing with you on that. But we're talking about, you know, racism against kids here. We're not talking about immigration or what's fair and what's unfair. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? The system isn't fair. We all know that. In every aspect, the system's not fair.
44:48
And as the comments are saying and people are saying, Balbrigan is known for plenty of black groups in that, around that area. And I don't see where they're coming from. Because they're saying, oh, it's Irish kids doing this and that. But there's not many Irish kids in the area.
45:03
Again, this is absolute bollocks, James. That is not true. Balbrigan hasn't suddenly been taken over by all blacks. A minority of the population in Balbrigan might be black. It's certainly not the majority. And anybody who says it is, is talking absolute bullshit.
45:20
Seriously. But they're not. It has to nickname Black Brigan for a reason.
45:23
It may have their nickname all it likes. It's because there are a number of black families in Balbrigan, not by any stretch of the imagination. And by the way, I was only there yesterday. Not by any stretch of the imagination is everyone in Balbrigan black. Seriously, that's really bugs the shit out of me when I hear people saying things like that. Yes, it has that nickname, but not because the majority or everybody in Balbrigan is black. That's just rubbish.
45:46
OK, I don't think she should be rehoused. I really, really don't. This, to me, sounds like someone who just wants to go into a nicer area or into a newer house. This is what this sounds like. Oh, so it's a made-up story, is it? Well, this is what it sounded like.
46:00
Again, sorry, James. If I was telling you a story of a white girl and her three kids and they live in Finglas or whatever, and God love her, her kids are being picked on morning, noon, and night, and she wants to be rehoused, you'd probably be much more sympathetic. Oh, my God.
46:17
Irish people have to put up in the same thing.
46:20
I actually do agree in terms of rehousing. I don't think it's the right thing to do. I think get to the root of the problem. Really? Yeah, I do.
46:26
Just put up with it.
46:28
No, no. Get to the root of the problem. Get to the root of the problem. Get the scumbags who are causing the trouble out.
46:32
Oh, that's exactly what Joseph said earlier on. Get the Irish family out.
46:35
Well, the people who are, regardless of where they're from, get the troublemakers out.
46:40
But I don't agree with moving around the list. We are in a housing crisis. We do have an astronomical amount of people waiting for homes. People who are living in emergency accommodation. So no, I definitely wouldn't be on the side of rehousing ourselves.
46:53
Just on Balbrigan, James, and somebody who's from Balbrigan is really annoyed. Balbrigan isn't a fucking ghetto. Racists gave it the name Black Brigan, and that's a fact. That is a fact. It is nothing. People portraying Balbrigan as being completely black is absolute bullshit. It really is, and it annoys me when I hear people saying that.
47:15
Let me bring in Lorraine. You're on Opinions Matter. Hi, Lorraine.
47:19
Afternoon, guys. How are you? Good, thanks, Lorraine. What did you want to say on this?
47:22
This story is like completely torn my stomach. You have people on there saying, oh, she should be grateful. Yep. She should have to put up with it. As you said, Adrian, if that was a white family, that was a white Irish family and black people were doing this to a white Irish family, the whole, everyone else is going, that's what I'm saying. That's like, it'd be a completely different story. You're not born a racist.
47:46
You're taught us. I agree with you 100%. And I have no reason to believe... Sorry, even James a minute ago is basically saying, where's the proof? Where is the proof that this happened? Now, if this was a story, as I said, of a white Irish girl from Finglas with her three kids, nobody would be saying to us, where's the proof?
48:06
How many topics have we done on this show about white children from Dublin being bullied? And straight away, everybody's like, oh, the bully, you know, they need to be fucked out of the school and you need to, you need to be teaching your kids to batter the kids. But now I would teach my kids to batter a bully back. I'd be like, here, here harder, they won't do it again. I'm with you on that one. Big time. But if this, if the bullies or if the child being bullied in this case were black, I guarantee you that the attitude would have been very different. Oh, you couldn't have a black child attacking a white child, like, you know, in these people's minds.
48:36
No, I live in a council estate, as you all know. I live in a council estate. And as I said in my message, all the kids, all the kids play together outside. Like all the kids are outside playing. Like the colour kids, the Egyptian kids, my kids, all the kids. And it's lovely to say. I was about to say that's the way it should be. But this bugs me. Like, as I said, you're not born a racist. That's being taught at home. Like, no kid's going to go out and throw a banana at a black kid and call him a monkey. Like, unless that's taught at home. That is just disgusting. And for people to come on to this podcast saying she should be grateful and all the rest of it, how would they feel if that was their kid?
49:11
Because Katie said coming in and you had to cradle your daughter to... When it's adults, it's different. When it's adults, it's bad. But when it's kids and when there's grown adults, you know, excusing the behaviour. Like, these are kids who had no hand party choice in anywhere they're brought or they grow up. Yeah. Like, they're Irish. And so...
49:31
I have to just pick one of our listeners up on something that was just said online there a second ago on our Facebook. Being born in the country doesn't make one Irish. Okay, so we'll say that to that person. We'll say that to, and this is what Ciarán replied, we'll say that to Paul McGrath. We'll say it to Phil Linnet. You're not Irish, lads. You might...
49:56
The athlete, what's her name, Rashid? Yeah.
49:58
Rashida Adeleke?
50:00
There's a famous interview of Phil Lennon saying, your one called him Irish and he turned around and he called him British and he turned around and said, no, I'm Irish. And she said it again and he turned around and said, no, I'm from Crumlin in Dublin, I'm Irish.
50:12
All right, Lorraine, thanks very much indeed for your message. Now, I want to just bring in one final message. We were talking earlier on with Joseph, and Joseph is fit to kill. Joseph has sent us this WhatsApp voice note.
50:26
Sorry, guys, I know you let me go there. I just want to make this one final point, if I may, and it is in relation to council housing and the fact that some of the people you have on there today, Sean included, seem to be oblivious to that there are Irish people taking advantage of the system. I have a cousin in my own family, a so-called single mum with three kids that got an apartment in Cabin Tilly. She's in no way single. The fella's living with her. This is happening right across the country. People in this country need to be consistent in their outrage.
51:00
Irish people are doing it. They're taking advantage of the council houses. So maybe we should start looking at ourselves before we blame those seeking asylum or those with a darker shade of skin. Over and out.
51:12
All right, Joseph, thank you very much indeed for your message.
51:14
Mark Starkey there on Facebook, people are insinuating that basically we don't believe there's racism against white people from black people. Yeah, we do. Actually, about two minutes ago, a message came in.
51:26
I would like to remain anonymous. I have an eight year old who was being bullied by a 13 year old black girl. I own my own property. She moved in a year ago. It's at the stage now. My daughter hasn't gone out in two weeks to play with her friends of three years as she is terrified. This is not about who owns the house or who got it first. It's about kids being bullied. I tried to talk to the mother, but she doesn't want to know. She actually called me a racist. The minute I heard that I just walked away because I knew there was no talking then. I have heard of people saying sometimes they bring out the race card and that is exactly what happened to me. I couldn't believe it.
51:57
This was nothing to do with race. I simply asked her could she speak to her daughter and asked her nicely if she would leave my daughter alone and not talk to her anymore as she's way too young to be dealing with a 13 year old.
52:07
Now, I asked that person to come on. So for anybody who's going to accuse us of being unbalanced or trying to push an agenda, I have actually asked. And sorry, I only sent that message two minutes ago to Karen who messaged. If she does reply and say she'll talk to us, we'll come back to this tomorrow. And then nobody can say we're not balanced.
52:23
Thanks for listening to this latest Opinions Matter podcast. We'll catch you on the next one.
52:29
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