Magazine article on Poles in Ireland criticised

The Polish ambassador to Ireland has described as "hugely exaggerated" a Polish magazine article documenting the grim experiences of exploited and suicidal Poles in this country.

The article, in last week's Newsweek Polska, documented cases of depressed Poles, sleeping in Dublin's Phoenix Park and unable to get help from overworked embassy staff.

"Poles usually hang themselves and the police find only documents or their baggage beside them. Sometimes it's hard to determine where are they from," wrote the magazine.

One woman was found dead after falling from a balcony, cremated at state expense and her ashes returned to her family in Poland. Another man was found hanging from a noose and rescued by a friend. Another woman had made seven suicide attempts, the magazine said.

There are more than 60,000 Poles in Ireland with PPS numbers and an unknown number of unregistered Poles. After consultations with the Department of Justice and charity organisations, the embassy estimated that up to 800 of this number have had difficulties in Ireland.

"When you arrive with €100 in your pocket and don't know anyone or speak any English, then of course you will have problems, but this is a clear minority," said Witold Sobkow, the Polish ambassador to Ireland. "You could write an identical article about Macedonians in Italy. It is not any specific Irish problem or a problem of Poles in Ireland."

Mr Sobkow said the embassy has recorded six Polish suicides, mostly of people who spoke no English, were separated from their families and became depressed and frustrated.

The main problem, he said, stems from Polish media portrayals of Ireland as a place with work for all without mentioning the high cost of living. "I've seen advertisements saying nurses can earn €2,000. That's true, but they don't say you pay €800 for a flat. No one knows that this is an expensive country."

Mr Sobkow said that, in the past, embassy staff had spent their own money on food for hard-up people but had to stop because they returned every day. But he rejected the article's claim that the embassy staff are overworked. "It is true we cannot do as much as people expect but we have our regulations."

As many as 60 Poles show up daily at the Capuchin Day Centre, the article says, with "no profession, but also no life experience, and especially not mentally ready for obstacles".

Different to paradise: What the Newsweek article says

Newsweek Polska doesn't spare its readers the gruesome details. Its article, titled "Different to Paradise", begins with the blood-drenched body of a Polish woman.

"Small, red-haired, full of energy and appetite for life. She believed that in Ireland she would earn enough to support herself and her child. She had heard it everywhere ... So she came to Dublin. She walked from bar to bar, hotel to hotel but walked away with nothing. She became depressed."

The 37-year-old woman was found unconscious after falling from her balcony and later died. An investigation has yet to establish whether it was a suicide or an accident. She was cremated and sent back to her family in Poland. "'It's not worth wasting your life for few poor euros,' cried her mother, holding the urn in both hands. 'Ireland was supposed to be the next promised land for Poles. It has become a hell for many'."

The magazine says Polish workers expect jobs better than the dishwashing, cleaning or construction work they would do in Germany or elsewhere, thanks to over-optimistic Polish magazine articles describing Ireland as a place "where a person with ambition will find a job in his or her field for several times more money than in Poland".

Many arrive with poor English or little money and make the mistake of heading for the Dublin area, where rent is high and jobs more scarce.

"Newbridge has become a capital of Polish emigration. Even though there were just 10 Poles living there four years ago, today Polish people comprise half of this town's 30-thousand strong population," says Newsweek.

The article doesn't feature any Poles who have made a success of themselves in Ireland, just people with "ambition and a delicate character" who were "hurt by the Irish reality", "become depressed, schizophrenic, alcoholic, steal or try to commit suicide".

One man with little English found work making sandwiches for 6 an hour, before his girlfriend left him and he lost his job and apartment.

"He was sent to Wexford mental hospital; depression and ultimately nervous breakdown, beginning of schizophrenia have all followed."

The article continues: "Agata Poleska, a 22-year old blonde with an artistic soul, tried to commit suicide seven times. In Galway hospital, they've had enough of a lunatic Pole who takes too many psychedelic drugs. After the last detox she's been informed that the next time she'll be sent to a mental hospital or deported to Poland."

A third man reported a suicide victim to the police but "couldn't (or perhaps wouldn't) say his name. The boy was approximately 21. He remains classified as 'unidentified'. No one is looking for him."

Many people in trouble go to the Capuchin Day Centre or to St Michan's Church, where about 1,000 Poles go to Mass on Sundays.

"I was at the Polish Mass where the priest was saying that many young people can't deal with this difficult situation and commit suicide," said one young woman. Polish priest Fr Andrzej Pyka told his congregation: "Go back home, to your families ... It's not worth dying for money."

Derek Scally