Traveller slavery - How deep is Irish link?

TWO hundred years after the abolition of slavery, the shocking revelation that unscrupulous individuals forced 24 down-and-outs to work unpaid, close to starvation and in appalling conditions, is a graphic illustration of the fact that slavery remains a fact of life for many people in the 21st century.

According to specialists in this murky business, the Travellers’ site in Bedfordshire is the tip of the iceberg.

That some of the suspects being questioned by police are reportedly Irish brings this appalling scenario home.