Campaign to debunk myths about Travellers

LIFE is hard enough for many of the country's 24,000 Travellers without the added insults, a Traveller support group has warned.

Travellers are blamed for crimes they do not commit, accused of not wanting to be 'normal', or branded as being excessively violent.

Offensive labels put on Irish Travellers must be exposed for the myths they are, says Pavee Point, a partnership of Irish Travellers and settled people. A brochure, Irish Travellers - Challenging the Myths, was launched yesterday as part of Traveller Focus Week to set the record straight.