Racism behind dire state of Cork halting site, advocate tells committee

Spring Lane halting site was the scene of violent clashes between rival families in August that saw multiple people injured. Picture: Larry Cummins

A leading Traveller advocate has said racism is the reason why an overcrowded halting site in Cork City is in a dire state.

Traveller Visibility Group Cork director of advocacy Breda O’Donoghue told members of an Oireachtas committee she had no other way of explaining why there has been insufficient development and improvements at the Spring Lane halting site.

The site was the scene of violent clashes between rival families in August that saw multiple people injured, including one man who suffered a non-fatal gunshot wound and another who needed stitches to a gash across his head.

Videos circulating on social media showed men and boys armed with weapons, including slash hooks and metal bars, attacking people and throwing objects at each other.

The violence erupted when one family wanted to lay a pipe that required access through a neighbour’s plot on the site.

Ms O’Donoghue said: “One local councilor told me that voting for Traveller development in their area is like a turkey voting for Christmas.

“That is why Spring Lane is in the state that it's in.

“That is why we have had no additional Traveller accommodation in Cork since 1990.”

Earlier, the Oireachtas committee heard that delays to approved works was due to intimidation of contractors.

Cork City Council assistant chief executive Brian Geaney said: “We want to spend the money that's been allocated to do this [site], but whether it's pest control, routine maintenance or servicing a portaloo, I have a litany of incidents where people have been stopped and intimidated.”

He said he is aware of several incidents when people contracted to work on the site have refused to go back to work there due to intimidation.

He told committee members: “There are serious law and order issues here. The council is being hindered in carrying out its work.”

He told members that the Garda Emergency Response Unit has even had to escort contractors on and off the site.