Traveller group complains to Europe over ‘appalling’ site

A Travellers’ rights group has lodged a formal complaint with the Council of Europe about appalling living conditions at an overcrowded halting site, which was at the centre of a stand-off with city workers yesterday.

Gardaí were called to the Spring Lane site on the northside of Cork city around 12pm when several Travellers, including women and young children, blocked earth-moving equipment from entering the site.

Acting on instructions from Cork City Council, a contractor was due to remove an unauthorised area of hardcore which had been laid alongside the official site recently.