Traveller representative group condemns violence at Laois cemetery
Pavee Point said the violence was in no way consistent with the conduct of mass-going Travellers who attend daily and weekly religious services
A Traveller representative group has condemned the violent scenes at a cemetery in Portlaoise as ‘shocking’ and unacceptable.
“Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre wishes to express our utter condemnation of the violent scenes at St Peter and Paul’s Cemetery in Portlaoise on Sunday,” the group said in a statement on social media.
The Garda Public Order Unit had to be called in to deal with violence which flared between two groups of individuals during the annual blessing of the graves at St Peter and Paul’s Cemetery in Portlaoise on Sunday, May 31.
Gardaí arrested four people as a result of the violence and two people required hospital treatment for injuries. It’s believed that knives were produced during the incident.
“Such conduct is absolutely unacceptable and it is shocking that thousands of peaceful mass-goers, including other Traveller families, coming together to remember their loved ones, should have to witness such violent confrontations,” Pavee Point said in their statement.
“The actions of a small group of individuals in Portlaoise on Sunday are in no way consistent with the conduct of mass-going Travellers who attend daily and weekly religious services across the country,” they said.
“We support the Gardaí in their investigation and we join them in urging anyone with information about the incident to contact Portlaoise Garda Station on (057) 867 4100, or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111,” Pavee Point concluded.