In Part 1 of an exclusive two-part Op Ed, Irish journalyst and analyst Miceál O’Hurley points the finger at the Ukrainian Embassy in Dublin, accusing it of failing its temporary diaspora, ignoring wounded soldiers seeking rehabilitation in Ireland and pushing Ukrainian refugees to breaking point. Meanwhile, he claims, Ambassador Larysa Gerasko makes the most of every public relations opportunity whilst cosying up to pro-Russian political party Sinn Fein.
CORK – Ukrainians enjoying Temporary Protection status by the European Union (EU) and being housed at shelters, hostels and hotels around Ireland have for months been complaining about what they describe as neglect and a lack of service and attention by the Ukrainian Embassy in Dublin.
Accusations of the Embassy’s failure to provide consular services, return telephone calls or emails pervade the Ukrainian community that fled Ukraine for their safety and that of their children. There’s been particular condemnation of Ambassador Larysa Gerasko posing for photographs posted on social media at numerous social, sporting and other events since Feb. 24, which stand in stark contrast to any images of her attending to Ukrainians living in shelters and temporary housing.
Dozens of Ukrainians temporarily housed at one hotel in County Cork took the extraordinary step of writing a formal letter of complaint to Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba. The undated letter, a copy of which has been obtained by the Kyiv Post, was also copied to Ukraine’s Ambassador in Ireland, Larysa Gerasko.
The temporary diaspora also highlighted the presence of severely wounded Ukrainian veterans that were transferred to Ireland for operations, rehabilitation and recuperation, yet have also been neglected and received no contact from the embassy for over one month, despite their presence being widely reported in the Irish media.
Prior to publication, the embassy was given an opportunity to respond to the details of this article, to clarify the record or make any statements they desired. They declined.
The Ukrainian community in Ireland has also been outraged that in the very week in which Sinn Fein (Irish for – ‘We Ourselves’) – a nationalistic political party in Ireland with a long and indelible pro-Russian agenda – voted against Ukraine obtaining EU Candidate status, Gerasko was photographed smiling and standing beside the Sinn Fein President and party leader, Mary Lou McDonald.
The photograph was taken only days after a Sinn Fein parliamentarian, Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn used an appearance on an Irish radio station to blame Ukrainians for Ireland’s housing, homelessness and other domestic problems.
One Ukrainian likened Gerasko’s decision to invite McDonald to a Ukrainian event as akin to President Volodymyr Zelensky inviting Viktor Medvedchuk for photographs.
The letter of complaint to Foreign Minister Kuleba arose after Ukrainians felt they could not obtain satisfactory communications and consular services from the Ukrainian Embassy in Dublin after many months.
The problem is not restricted to the large Ukrainian community in Cork but pervades shelters and housing centers around Ireland. Families who want to return to Ukraine cannot do so as their passports have expired. Some have now resorted to attempting to have the passports renewed through their husbands serving on the front lines and via Kyiv directly.
Interestingly, the embassy responded the same day to one of the complainants after receiving a copy of the complaint letter to Kuleba by email. It is understood they struck an extraordinarily hostile tone which was characterized as “angry and accusatory.”
For the Ukrainians who attempted for weeks if not months to obtain consular services without a response to hear from the embassy the same day about their letter of complaint confirmed to them the embassy’s lax attitude towards them.
One of the signatories to the letter who wishes to remain anonymous said: “It is frustrating. They don’t respond to our written requests for services and help but when we complain in writing they respond immediately and accuse us of never having asked for help.”
According to another: “Our heroes work every day without a break. Our embassy keeps hours like Irish bankers and seems to only have time to post photos of smiling faces at parties and football matches.”
Wounded soldiers ignored
Another point of contention in the letter arises from their complaint that five severely wounded Ukrainian combat veterans were transferred to Ireland for surgery, treatment and rehabilitation under the EU’s Disaster Relief Project in June. Some were suffering from severe brain injuries caused by combat wounds.
According to Ukrainian evacuees living in Cork, they collectively took up financial collections, bought laptops so the soldiers could communicate with their families in Ukraine, and arranged psychological support for the soldiers after learning that the embassy in Dublin had not reached out despite more than a month having passed since their arrival in Ireland.
The embassy claimed ignorance of the wounded soldiers’ presence – responding to the copy of the complaint letter that they had “no idea” they were present in the country.
Yet multiple Irish newspapers, radio and television programs widely covered the arrival and treatment of the Ukrainian soldiers in Ireland. According to confidential sources in the temporary Ukrainian diaspora, “It is impossible for the Embassy to say they did not know our heroes were being treated… They are lying… President Zelenskyy fired security services leaders who betrayed Ukraine. Maybe he should do the same for diplomats that undermine us.”
A source within the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, not authorized to speak on the subject but with personal knowledge of the matter, confirmed the Ukrainian Embassy was notified of plans to accept the five wounded Ukrainian soldiers.
On May 10, at the height of the Russian siege of the Azovstal Steel Works, Ambassador Gerasko visited Cork in the West of Ireland where she was approached by a woman from Mariupol who needed assistance. According to multiple sources present at the time, Gerasko refused to make time for her. However, social media reveals that she took time to receive an award from a small and obscure business association in Cork that day.
It is uncertain what merited the award given her less than one year’s service in Ireland, and it has been suggested that the business was perhaps seeking a marketing opportunity.
To be continued in Part 2.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and not necessarily those of the Kyiv Post.
