IRISH COMPLAINT OF RACISM IN AUSTRALIA

The comic appeared in The West Australian newspaper yesterday. Photograph: Irish People Living In Australia

Image in The West Australian depicts Irish nurses doing a jig with a leprechaun 

A group representing Irish people living in Australia is considering making an official complaint over a cartoon in an Australian newspaper which they claim is a “racist” depiction of Irish nurses.

The cartoon by Dean Alston, printed in The West Australian newspaper yesterday, shows four Irish nurses and a leprechaun doing a jig at the bedside of two patients.

The Facebook group Irish People Living in Australia, which has more than 30,000 followers, has written to the editor of the newspaper saying they are “absolutely disgusted with the racist message conveyed in the image”.

The 14 administrators of the page, who are based in Ireland and around Australia, have requested an apology on behalf of their members “for this ill-mannered and offensive cartoon”. If an apology is not issued by 9am tomorrow morning Irish time, they will make an official complaint to the Australian Press Council, they said.

“We are sick and tired of constantly being referred to with these stereotypes,” the email concluded.

Within minutes of sending the email, the administrators claim they received a response from Mr Alston saying: “Most Irish people I know have a great sense of humour. I’m Irish. I should know.”

A spokesman for the group said several of their members had contacted them today to say they had already made complaints over the cartoon. MORE HERE