Gardaí get the silent treatment

CLARE Travellers have been accused of adopting a “code of silence” about people involved in criminal damage to Traveller accommodation in the county that so far has cost an estimated €468,000, it emerged this week.

 

Extensive investigations by Clare gardaí into suspected arson attacks and vandalism of Traveller accommodation are being hindered by a lack of information from residents in halting sites. Gardaí have confirmed that only one person has been prosecuted for causing criminal damage to Traveller accommodation units in Ennis and Shannon following 10 incidents over the last three years.

A garda spokesman told The Clare Champion they found it extremely difficult to get any information in relation to these incidents, despite extensive door-to-door interviews of residents, forensic tests and public appeals for information.

The spokesman stated it is very difficult to obtain witnesses for any incidents relating to Traveller accommodation damage. Stressing every piece of evidence is vital, he said there may be a number of reasons why people are not willing to come forward, including a concern about possible intimidation and reprisals.

“Gardaí rely on public co-operation in relation to investigating any crimes. The co-operation we have received from the public in relation to Traveller accommodation damage is less than we would hope for,” he said.

However, Clare Traveller Accommodation Committee chairperson, Councillor Brian Meaney, went a step further, accusing Clare Travellers of effectively engaging in “omerta” or a code of silence when it comes to assisting gardaí find the culprits of criminal damage.

Councillor Meaney said some Travellers are not prepared to be placed in certain Traveller accommodation bays because of a fear of intimidation.

He proposed that Travellers who decline to co-operate with gardaí concerning an investigation of alleged intimidation should not be prioritised for social housing.

Asked if this is legal, Councillor Meaney insisted Travellers have to be prepared to stand up and help identify the culprits of criminal damage to Traveller accommodation, which is unsustainable because of the escalating cost of repairs and maintenance.

He claimed the introduction of some form of penalty has to be seriously considered by the council because some individuals seem to think they can operate outside the law, burning and damaging Traveller accommodation.

He also expressed grave concern about the alleged poor attendance of Travellers on the Traveller Accommodation Liaison Committee and stressed the innocent victims in the criminal damage are compliant taxpayers.

Councillor Meaney said an increasing number of young Traveller couples don’t want to be placed in Traveller-specific accommodation and want ordinary social housing instead.

Clare County Councillors recently decided not to provide any new Traveller accommodation until the vacant 16 units are filled.

Ennis Community Development Project (CDP) chairman, Dermot Hayes, stressed the board condemns all acts of violence of any nature conducted by any individual and acknowledged the huge damage to Traveller accommodation is unacceptable and a waste of taxpayers’ money.

However, Mr Hayes said Travellers in general have been demonised by the actions of a minority.
While Ennis CDP actively encourages Travellers to engage in dialogue and participate in Traveller accommodation committees, he pointed out Travellers who attend these meetings feel there isn’t meaningful consultation and don’t feel their views are being seriously listened to or taken into account.

Stressing the importance of meaningful and proper consultation, he pointed out there is an onus on council officials and councillors to do everything possible to build up trust with Travellers, while the latter also have to play their part in making these committees work.

Asked if it is right for Travellers to refuse to go into a particular halting site, he pointed out halting sites are very confined, isolated forms of accommodation surrounded by walls, which are completely different to the open environment of housing estates.

He said some Travellers have genuine reasons as to why they don’t want to be placed in a certain location and feels every reasonable effort should be made to take their wishes into account. He also encouraged Travellers to come forward and provide any evidence of criminal damage to Clare gardaí.
The catalogue of damage dates back to a house fire at 5 Ashline, Ennis on September 19, 2009. Two people who reported seeing smoke coming from the house contacted gardaí but no witnesses came forward from the immediate area.

Later the same night, gardaí attended another fire, also in Ashline. Gardaí carried out extensive house-to-house enquiries but there were no witnesses and no one saw anything.

This trend was replicated in all of the reported incidents, with the exception of one in Shannon. Gardaí didn’t find the source of the fire but were satisfied it was caused in suspicious circumstances.

A house fire in an unoccupied dwelling at St Enda’s Park, Beechpark, was reported on February 5, 2010. Two points of fire were identified in the house and this was another suspected arson attack.

A fire was started in the back bedroom of a vacant house at Ballymaley, Gort Road, Ennis in the early hours of July 2 last. The damage was estimated at €17,500. Although gardaí conducted door-to-door enquiries, no one saw anything suspicious at the time and no suspect was apprehended.

Two suspicious fires caused extensive damage to No. 2 and No. 5 at the Ashline Halting Site on May 21, 2010. Minor damage was also caused to No. 3, as a result of the suspicious fire in the neighbouring property. The total estimated damage came to €80,000.

Forensic tests carried out found evidence of an accelerant having been used, as a number of firelighters were found in the houses, some of which failed to light.

Ennis Fire Brigade also reported that three spindles were taken from nearby fire hydrants, which appeared to be deliberately done to slow down fire fighters by making it more difficult to secure water connections.

Another fire was started in the back bedroom of a house in Ballymaley, Ennis on July 2 last. Although the back door was unsecured, no major damage was caused.

On July 18 last, Ennis gardaí received a report of a fire at 4 Watery Road, Ennis. A mattress was set alight in the front bedroom and fire lighters were recovered from a back bedroom. It is estimated that €1,100 of damage was caused as a result of this suspected arson incident.

The only exception was following criminal damage of windows to a house at Ballymurtagh Cross, Shannon on March 21, 2011.

A person got a registration number for a vehicle which was seen in the vicinity of the area at the time of the crime and this led to the arrest of a 20-year-old man, who was subsequently sentenced to two months in prison. The defendant wasn’t a juvenile or a Traveller.