Last of Roma abandon M50 camp

WORN down and worn out, the last of the Roma community left their filthy encampment in Dublin on an M50 roundabout yesterday after agreeing to be repatriated to Romania.

Just before lunchtime, gardaí escorted 34 adults and children to a bus that took them to a reception centre in Balseskin, near Dublin Airport.

They departed the country last night together with another group of 67 Roma gypsies who had left the roundabout on Tuesday.

Seven Roma gypsies returned to Romania on scheduled flights that left Ireland on Monday night and Tuesday.

Members of the last group to leave the roundabout, on the Ballymun intersection, were all facing deportation within the next couple of weeks unless they could convince Justice Minister Brian Lenihan they should be allowed to stay.

It is understood that one of the Roma families, who decided to accept the offer of free flights yesterday, will not be pursuing their High Court action challenging the decision by the minister to remove them from the State, due to be heard tomorrow.

The Romanian mother of a six-month-old baby daughter, who also agreed to leave the roundabout, is taking a separate High Court action against the Health Service Executive (HSE) aimed at securing family support services. The case was yesterday adjourned until tomorrow.

The HSE also confirmed yesterday that it was in the process of returning two children belonging to a Roma family, who remain in a derelict cottage on the Old Swords Road, just across from the roundabout. It is understood the family are negotiating their return to Romania early next week.

Garda immigration officials believe that the gypsies changed their minds after it was made clear to them that they did not qualify for any benefits in the State and could not be permitted to remain under existing EU regulations.

Pavee Point assistant director Martin Collins said he believed the Roma gypsies had become resigned to the fact that the State was not going to intervene and do anything for them.

“The conditions were just too harsh for them. They were just worn down, tired, hungry and fed up. So, on that basis, they decided to go back,” he said.

Mr Collins was also disappointed that Pavee Point’s message about the Roma gypsies had been misrepresented by some sections of the media.

“Pavee Point never ever attempted to undermine or question the integrity of the Department of Justice or the courts to decide on the fate of the Roma,” he said.

Mr Collins said their exclusive concern from the very start was the humanitarian crisis on the M50 roundabout. “We were just attempting to highlight the crisis and call on the State services to provide the basic necessities of life — accommodation, food, heating and clothing to allow the Roma live a dignified existence until the department or the courts decided on their fate.”

Mr Collins also suspected that more Roma would arrive in Ireland in the future, not just from Romania, but from other parts of eastern Europe. A co-ordinated approach by non-governmental organisations and state agencies was needed to deal with this type of situation in the future.

Mr Lenihan said he would be reviewing practices and legislation in the light of the development.

“But, of course, in any matter that affects our relationship with other EU states we have to be very careful with whatever route we go,” he said yesterday.