Respecting the culture of Travellers

The juxtaposition of the American Deep South and Ireland (Irish Examiner, Apr 7) may have resonance for Irish Travellers. Your readers may like to know that some councillors in Dublin are not caught under the ‘votes at all costs’ umbrella.

Michael Clifford lets the facts in the Kilkenny arson attack speak for themselves and allows the public representatives reflect, by their own words and actions, what they see as the electoral reality of deep prejudice in their society.

Being privileged to be elected chairman of the Travellers Accommodation Committee at Dublin City Council and of the Northwest Area Committee in Dublin, which has the greatest number of Traveller accommodation sites in the city, I try to ensure respect for the Travellers’ culture and decency in the provision of accommodation.

This is a difficult task as official obstacles are big. Traveller representatives themselves want all violence and criminality in their communities to stop and gardaí to ensure their safety. Intimidation and fear stalk some areas because of heavy criminal activity. I have called on the gardaí and the State agencies to act in concert to combat flagrant crime in Traveller sites in north Dublin. Fear is an emotion familiar to many decent Traveller families.

The Kilkenny Joint Policing Committee should deal with arson in that county and ask the gardaí to prioritise the crimes of violence and intimidation wherever these arise. I look forward to the Garda file heading to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Cllr Prof Bill Tormey

Glasnevin Avenue

Dublin 11