Traveller support group Pavee Point has condemned the recent arson attack on a house allocated to a Traveller family in Donegal.
Traveller support group Pavee Point has condemned the recent arson attack on a house allocated to a Traveller family in Donegal.
Firefighters were called to the house fire in the Parkhill area of Ballyshannon in the early hours of Saturday 9 February, which gardaí suspect to be arson.
Pavee Point said it was “disgusted and disappointed” to learn of the attack, which it claims is the third such incident in recent years.
The group said it called on the Garda “ to provide protection to this and other Traveller families and their property in Donegal, and to undertake a comprehensive investigation into this criminal act and bring the perpetrators to account.
Pavee Point added that it commended Donegal County Council “for allocating the house to the Traveller family in the first place in the face of local opposition” and called for a speedy rehousing of the family in question.
Referring to earlier comments made by local councillor Seán McEniff who was opposed to the allocation of the house to any Traveller family, Pavee Point said it calls on politicians “to be more responsible in public comment in relation to Travellers.
“Such leadership will be required throughout the country next year when the new Traveller Accommodation Plans 2014-2018 are due to be published and approved by all local authorities,” it added.
