Ambassador accuses Roma family of misleading public

The Romanian Ambassador to Ireland is accusing members of the Roma family living on a motorway roundabout in Dublin of misleading the Irish public.

Silvia Stancu Davidou is quoted in this morning's newspapers denying claims by the family that they lived in worse conditions at rubbish dumps in Romania.

She says the Romanian government has found out that many of those in the camp on the M50 roundabout in Ballymun had permanent addresses in Romania and received social welfare benefits at home.

Ms Davidou claims the Roma Support Group and the traveller focus group Pavee Point are spearheading a misleading campaign which embraces stereotypes about discrimination against the Roma community.

The families have denied the ambassador's claims, while the Pavee Point Roma Support Group said they did not think the ambassador's claims were credible.