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.

As evidenced by the recent Irish Examiner exposé of the hidden scandal of sexual exploitation and trafficking of women here, Ireland already has its own shameful form of modern-day slavery.

Yet, despite the criminal abuse of female slaves in brothels across the country, there is no anti-slavery legislation on the statute books.

Ironically, the disgraceful situation in Bedfordshire is more likely to bring home the case for this kind of legislation than the plight of abused women. Do similar slave camps exist here?

The argument for such legislation is compelling — the sooner it is enacted the better.