Travellers left homeless after refusal to move to new houses

TWO Traveller families were yesterday rendered homeless after refusing to move into new €330,000 homes provided by Clare County Council.

The families cited compatibility issues with other Travellers at the site for not moving into the four-bedroom homes on a €2 million six-unit halting site.

Bishop Willie Walsh had tried to resolve the families’ differences, but failed.

Deputy Mayor of Ennis Cllr Frankie Neylon said he was surprised the families did not take up the offer.

“I am amazed families would prefer to be homeless rather than move into those homes. It is hard to believe, since not so long ago, Travellers picketed the offices of the council looking for houses. Now it appears they don’t want them.”

One of the families has moved their caravan into the grounds of Dr Walsh’s residence in Ennis.

Dr Walsh said yesterday: “This is in response to the particular circumstances of this particular family. I have no intention of inviting other families here.”

The families had been living in the rat-infested Beechpark halting site, which lies in the path of the proposed Ennis bypass.

The council secured a High Court injunction ordering them to leave the site. The two new homes will now be offered to other Traveller families.