Council engages Good Friday mediator in Traveller feud

A MEDIATOR who was involved directly with the Good Friday Agreement negotiations in Northern Ireland has been engaged by Ennis Town Council to deal with conflict issues between tenants in its housing estates.
The council is understood to be spending over €4,000 a month on the mediation service that has, among other things, been dealing with the ongoing Traveller feud in Ennis.
Niall O’Keeffe, acting town clerk, said the use of mediation services by the council is in its infancy. “We don’t require the services often but we have a mediator for the past year and a half. By nature of any conflict situation, mediation takes a long time, so it can be a drawn-out process,” he said.
He confirmed that mediators have been contracted by the council to work on issues causing conflict and tension between Travellers. 
“Exactly who is involved in it, I cannot say, for reasons of confidentiality. It’s only suited to certain situations, as all parties have to be willing to participate,” he added.
Mr O’Keeffe said the council is using a mediator who had been used in the Northern Peace Process and who was involved directly with the Good Friday Agreement negotiations. “We have checked out the credentials of all of the mediators involved and are confident that they are very experienced in conflict resolution,” he said.
Asked to comment on the sum of over €4,000 which The Clare Champion has been informed is spent monthly on mediation services, Mr O’Keeffe said the town council is not the sole provider of funding for mediation for conflict situations between Travellers or anyone else. He added, “I am not in position to comment on how much this service costs the council. The cost would depend on specific mediation and standard professional fees would apply. It is not a regular monthly service so it would be difficult to put a monthly sum on it.”
However, he explained that some of the mediation could be covered under the town council’s estate management budget. “Mediation services have not to date being included under a specific heading in the council’s annual budget. There is a community fund arising from different events, which can also be used. However, it is a relatively small amount, which varies depending on activities in a given month,” he commented.
Chief Superintendent John Kerin said he welcomed any effort or assistance when it comes to conflict situations. “Whether it’s public or private assistance, I welcome it. The use of a mediator in situations, such as those issues which have emerged between Travellers in Ennis, is not unique to Ennis Town Council. It has been used in other areas where I’ve served,” he added.
He continued, “We have concerns about the amount of violence used in this conflict and are acutely aware of the fear of the public in relation to it. We do appreciate the efforts of the council and the resources they are putting into this. What happens in a situation like this is that we help the council and they help us.”
Town councillor Paul O’Shea, who is the chair of the Ennis Joint Policing Committee, pointed out that he had called for the services of a mediator to be used in relation to the ongoing Traveller feud in Ennis, from earlier this year. “It is the right thing to do in this situation and I am glad the council has gone down this route. My main concern, however, is the cost involved. In tight economic times, when money is unavailable for vital services, it is a shame that the council needs to spend money on mediation services,” he commented.