Bishop still concerned over Ennis feud

BISHOP Willie Walsh, in his final week leading the diocese, has acknowledged that he is very worried that the ongoing feud between traveller families in the Ennis area has the potential to reach the level of the feuds between members of the settled community in cities such as Limerick and Dublin.

“I’m quite concerned that the feud will escalate again. Nothing is settled by violence. Violence breeds violence. It has escalated in recent years and I’m very worried that it will escalate further and will result in very serious injury or potentially in death. We read regularly in the national media now about feuds among the settled community in the cities and how destructive they are to those involved and to the wider community. Nobody wants these matters to persist. This feud between travellers in Ennis has the potential to reach that level and I am very worried about that. Nobody in Ennis or Clare wants that. I pray that those involved will see the error of their ways, for their own sake and that of the wider community. I would ask them to consider carefully and I believe strongly that mediation can assist with this, to find another way going forward,” Bishop Walsh said.
He also confirmed that he hasn’t been involved in mediating in issues between traveller families in recent times. “I previously talked to traveller families. About 10 years ago in relation to finding a location for a traveller accommodation site on the Gort Road in Ennis, a mediation process was set up to reach a consensus between travellers, residents and schools. The process helped to heal matters and that mediation process went well. That was for an agreed process and for the purpose of reaching a consensus on the location of the halting site,” he explained.
The Bishop continued, “I have to say I haven’t been involved much in recent times. I was approached privately some time ago, about a month or two ago, not a direct approach by a public body. I just didn’t think I had the time to devote to it. I would have liked to have the time but time is key to a mediation process because it involves a lot of listening and when I couldn’t commit to having the time to do it, I couldn’t do it.”
He added that he welcomes the appointment and use of a mediator by Ennis Town Council  to try and help to resolve ongoing issues between some travellers in the Ennis area. “The knowledge and experience of a mediator is very much needed in the matter. I certainly welcome the move and I do not question in any way money being spent for this purpose. I trust and hope that the mediation process currently underway will bring some form of peace in respect of the issues that are there.
I am in no doubt about how destructive the feud has been, and is being, and I do not want it to continue, for everybody’s sake. I hope very much that the mediator manages to bring peace and understanding among those involved. It doesn’t only affect those directly involved, but the general community also, who are in fear of what may happen,” he said.