Traveller representatives criticise Finglas raids
Traveller representatives have criticised the scale of this morning's garda raids on a number of halting sites in the Finglas area of Dublin.
Around 200 gardaĂ were involved in the operation, which focused on the Dunsink Lane area.
Six men were arrested and several items were seized, including an airgun, fireworks and counterfeit goods.
Martin Collins, a spokesman for the Pavee Point Travellers' Centre, said while he accepted the need for a crackdown on criminal elements within the community, today's operation was over-aggressive.
"The police intervention was over the top, it was very invasive," he said. "There was over 200 gardaĂ carrying out a number of raids.
"Our children this morning going to school - they have been stopped and searched, their schoolbags have been searched.
"I find that very appalling. We know there's criminal activity in the area. Those people need to be identified, weeded out, brought to court, put through due process, but this is not the way we feel the matter should be dealt with."
