An asylum seeker from Nigeria has said he was the victim of a racist attack in Dublin city centre yesterday evening.
The man, who is in his 30s, told RTÉ News he was in a park near Bridgefoot Street with other International Protection applicants waiting for a charity-run homeless centre to open.
He said a group of teenagers called them racial slurs and threw eggs and stones at them.
He said there were verbal exchanges between the groups and some older men arrived and became involved.
The man said he was assaulted and taken to hospital.
He had been sleeping outside the International Protection Office on Mount Street in Dublin city centre since arriving in Ireland two weeks ago, but has been given accommodation for tonight by a volunteer.
Gardaí confirmed they received a report of an assault at around 5.10pm yesterday and said a man in his thirties was brought to St James's Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.
