Waterford Traveller group hits out at media coverage of riot

AN umbrella group representing Travellers in Waterford has hit out at what it described as a “trial by media” after a riot on a halting site in the city last week.

Up to 50 gardaí were forced to spend last Tuesday night on the Kilbarry site on the edge of Waterford city after a bare-knuckle fist fight erupted into an all-out brawl. One local councillor suggested the site be closed down after the brawl.

But yesterday, the Waterford Traveller Community Development Project (WTCDP) hit out at the coverage of the incident, and said there was a need to highlight the serious negative impact that the media response to the Kilbarry site case has had on the Waterford Traveller community.