Roma group need protection, urges racism watchdog

ROMA families living in Dublin on an M50 roundabout should be given garda protection, a racism watchdog demanded yesterday.

Adults and children at the camp have been subjected to racist attacks and slurs.

The 54-strong extended family group, which includes a six-week-old among the 22 children, have been living for two months in horrific conditions on one of the busiest road junctions in the country.

An alliance of charities and non-government organisations came together in Dublin yesterday to urge the statutory agencies responsible to intervene and end what was described as a “humanitarian crisis”.

Roma coordinator with Pavee Point, Sara Russell said eggs had been thrown and abuse shouted at the Rostas family late at night.

Director of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Intercultural (NCCRI), Philip Watt said the Roma community should be given Garda protection to ensure that such incidents did not escalate into something more serious.

While the group could travel to Ireland without a visa they cannot get jobs without a work permit and are not entitled to any social welfare, community welfare of housing.

Roundabout resident Danila Rostas said the family used to live beside a refuse dump in Romania. Even living on a roundabout was an improvement in their situation, he said.

Under legislation, the group are entitled to stay in Ireland for 90 days and must report to Garda National Immigration Office when the period has expired.