Travellers group dismayed by publicans' blanket ban

A BLANKET ban by publicans on the sale of alcohol to Travellers would only alienate the travelling community further and lead to a flood of discrimination cases against pubs, it was claimed yesterday.

Reacting to the news that publicans in Westport, Co Mayo, would directly challenge equality legislation and refuse service to Travellers, Mayo Travellers Support Group (MTSG) claimed the vintners involved were “shooting themselves in the foot”.

Bernadette Comiskey, a spokesperson for the group, said: “All this does is to illustrate the depth of prejudice which needs to be addressed.