Travellers tell of climate of fear

Travellers are living in fear as they go about their day-to-day business due to the fall-out from the sentencing of a Co Mayo farmer, groups said tonight.

The groups – Pavee Point Travellers’ Centre, the National Traveller Women’s Forum and the Irish Traveller Movement – called on other organisations and opinion leaders to condemn racism against Travellers at this difficult time.

A spokeswoman for the three national Traveller organisations said: “As a result of the fallout from the Nally case Travellers are now living in fear as they go about their business on a day-to-day basis.

“This affects Traveller children in school and Traveller access to a whole range of services. Positive steps need to be taken to address Travellers’ precarious and marginalised position within Irish society and the media in general ought to avoid sensationalist reporting which can mislead, promote prejudice, or, is likely to promote incitement to hatred.”

The groups also welcomed the cancellation of a planned national rally in support of farmer Padraig Nally who was jailed for six years for the manslaughter of Traveller John Ward.

The representatives said the decision to defer the rally in support of the farmer was the correct one.

The organisations said they felt in the current climate of racism and widespread anti-Traveller sentiment the march would only have served to fuel further racism.

The South Mayo bachelor farmer, 61, shot John ‘Frog’ Ward twice and beat him with a stick when he found him trespassing in his farmyard in October last year.

Mr Nally reloaded his shotgun to fire the second shot, which hit Mr Ward in the back as the tried to run away. Mr Ward’s wife Marie said their 11 children were now without a father and said Mr Nally should have received a life sentence.

The organisations said they recognised the need for constructive debate around issues such as rural decline where people in isolated areas were left vulnerable and exposed to criminals.

The Padraig Nally Support Group, which was formed after the sentencing of the farmer last week, today said it had decided to defer the rally – due to take place in Athlone this Sunday – until a future date.

A spokesman for the group said: “There was a perception that the planned rally had developed into an anti-Traveller issue, which was never the intention of the group.”

A statement issued by the group, including James Waldron who is also vice-chairman of Mayo GAA Board, said the rally was also deferred to allow the farmer’s application for appeal to be processed, as well as for public safety reasons.

The Padraig Nally Support Group said it was hoping to meet Justice Minister Michael McDowell to put forward their concerns in relation to citizens’ rights to protect themselves and their property.

The Traveller representative groups said they had consistently challenged anti-social and criminal behaviour by Travellers and would continue to do so.