Councillor calls for eviction of Travellers

TRAVELLERS living in a €3 million flagship housing scheme denied claims last night they have “destroyed” their homes and are setting illegal bonfires.

Cork city councillor Terry Shannon (FF) launched a blistering attack on the Travelling community on Monday following a string of complaints about illegal burning next to their Meelagh Estate in Mahon.

He claimed Travellers have “made life hell” for people around the estate by burning copper wire and rubbish close to the estate.

“They have destroyed the housing scheme,” he said.

Meelagh Estate was developed at a cost of €2.94m in partnership with Travellers as the city council’s first group housing scheme.

It was opened by President Mary McAleese in January 2005. It has nine bungalows and three halting bays and the residents, who have family links to the area, are city council tenants.

President McAleese described it as a shining example of integration and said it would give Traveller children a bright future.

But Mr Shannon told a council meeting on Monday that Travellers there have shown no respect to the settled community.

“They are burning rubbish and copper. Travellers are doing it and I want them evicted,” he said.

“If they were any other tenants, we’d be down on them like a tonne of bricks. They’d be out on their backsides. They have shown no regard for their neighbours and total contempt to the council. Are we afraid of them?” He called on city manager Joe Gavin to act.

But Mr Gavin rejected suggestions that the estate had been wrecked.

“It’s in reasonable order,” he said. He also cautioned about general comments directed at the Travelling community.

He said the council is monitoring activity on the site and officials are trying to identify individuals engaged in illegal burning with a view to bringing prosecutions.

“Prosecutions cannot be instigated until positive identification is available. What’s needed is evidence. If anyone has evidence, we will take action,” he said.

Doll Keenan, who lives in the estate, admitted illegal burning is taking place.

“Copper is getting burned. But I couldn’t tell you who’s doing it,” she said

“We’re trying to get the council to stop it by putting up railings around the front of the site.”

Senior city housing official Finbarr Long said fencing was one of a number of options being considered to resolve the issue.

Traveller Visibility Group spokesperson, Chrissie O’Sullivan, said she was concerned about toxic fumes from the fires.

“This type of anti-social behaviour is putting a strain on relations between Travellers and the settled community,” she said.

“The council should work to educate Travellers about the dangers.”

She also wants an estate management scheme to give Travellers a sense of ownership of the estate.

Meanwhile, new council figures show that of the 5,700 eligible applicants on its housing waiting list, 60 are Travellers. Most (3,676) are classed as financial applicants, 661 are under the medical or compassionate category, 524 are in hostels or homeless and 368 are in overcrowded accommodation.