Travellers accuse Sinn Féin TD of racist abuse

TRAVELLERS in Kerry have complained to gardaí that they were subjected to racist abuse from Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris.

They are alleging that Mr Ferris referred to them as “dirty, smelly Pavees”.

But Mr Ferris yesterday strongly denied making racist and abusive remarks to the Travellers in his Kerry North constituency. Gardaí are investigating a noisy incident which is understood to have taken place on Thursday last in the Mitchels Crescent area of Tralee, where a large number of settled Travellers live.

Nobody was injured in the incident and there are conflicting reports locally about fisticuffs taking place at the scene, with two garda patrol cars being called.

Gardaí have taken statements and more people are expected to be interviewed.

Mr Ferris has rejected all allegations “without any ambiguity whatsoever and with 100% certainly”.

He said he did not under any circumstance use racial abuse towards anybody and found such allegations most insulting to himself and everything he stood for.

He also said gardaí had not been in contact with him, but understood they were investigating “something” that took place in the Mitchels area.

Local sources said the alleged incident occurred after Mr Ferris went to the Mitchels area with another Sinn Féin official. They are believed to have asked for the return of equipment allegedly taken from a building site, but heated exchanges resulted after a group of men resented being accused of stealing.

On hearing a disturbance, other men gathered and gardaí were called.

Under the 1991 Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act, it is a criminal offence to use racist or abusive language against an ethnic group or incite hatred on grounds of race, colour, religion, ethnic or national origin.