I would be terrified if I was Roma, says minister

A government minister responsible for new communities has admitted he would be "terrified" if he was a member of the Roma community living in Ireland at the moment.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said that those who targeted the home of a Roma family in Waterford at the week-end were “racists” and “cowards”.

Directing comments to anyone who took part in a weekend protest in Waterford, the minster said: “I think they know themselves that their behaviour is cheap and cowardly. I think they know themselves that, if it was another individual or criminal gang who were Irish, then they probably wouldn’t do it.”