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Prejudiced and Unbalanced Reporting

Press Release

PREJUDICED AND UNBALANCED REPORTING AND IRRESPONSIBLE POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM IMPACTS NEGATIVELY ON TRAVELLERS' LIVES.

The National Traveller Organisations Respond on Behalf of the Traveller community

The Irish Traveller Movement, Pavee Point Travellers Centre and the National Traveller Women's Forum strongly believe that there is a need to highlight the serious negative impact that the media response to the Nally / Ward case has had on the Traveller community.

Since this unfortunate incident Travellers believe that they have been put on trial by the media and by society. This has led to fears about the impact that this biased, and often racist, portrayal of a community will have on Travellers lives, on their access to accommodation, education and equality of opportunity. Traveller mothers have expressed fears about how their children will be treated at school as a result of the negative coverage of this case. Traveller families living in isolation in rural areas have fears about their safety as a result of the negative and unbalanced media response. "Travellers and Traveller Organisations believe that sections of the media have tried to justify John Wards death because he was a Traveller," said Margaret O'Leary Co-ordinator of the Primary Health Care Project in the Southside Traveller Action Group.

In addition, the lack of political leadership is very worrying as displayed by the recent political opportunism of those who have used this case as a way of gaining political ground, reinforcing negative stereotypes and thereby reinforcing people's fears and promoting racism. "We acknowledge that fear and isolation are on the increase in rural Ireland and this deserves a strong government response, but we would call on all leaders political and community to engage responsibly in any public discourse on this issue," said, Maria Joyce, National Traveller Women's Forum Development Worker.

According to Martin Collins assistant Director of Pavee point, "It is now time for the Government to show real political leadership and meet their commitments in relation to the Traveller community."

There has also been continual misinformation that Traveller organisations do not condemn or challenge anti-social and criminal behaviour. On the contrary, Traveller organisations have consistently taken a very strong stance against anti-social and criminal behaviour and will continue to do so.

"While the settled community are constantly calling for Travellers to respect settled people's way of life, Traveller's feel that there is a total disrespect for their culture and way of life, respect should be mutual. We need to learn from what this case has brought up and look at how both Travellers and settled people can develop mutual trust and respect for each other's way of life and culture," stated Thomas McCann, Joint Co-ordinator, ITM.

The Traveller development groups in the west are appealing to all communities in Ireland to examine the debate that has been had in relation to the Traveller community over the last few weeks. It is our opinion that a lot of anti Traveller sentiment has been expressed highlighting the divide between the Traveller and settled communities. Travellers in the west are concerned that this will heighten the discrimination already experienced by them.

The National Traveller organisations would like to express our sympathy with Marie Ward and her family, who are now coming into their second Christmas without a father and a husband.

END

For further information contact

Martin Collins Pavee Point, 01 8780255

Catherine Manion NTWF, 087-2349478

Thomas Mc Cann, Irish Traveller Movement, 086 -3904709

Western Region Contact

Margaret O'Riada, Galway Travellers Support Group, 091- 562530

Bernadette Comiskey, Sligo Travellers Support Group, 087-6229052

Bernard Sweeney, Mayo Travellers Support Group, 086-8767982

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