Question mark over future of Portlaoise Cemetery Sunday Mass following violent scenes
‘It was shocking. It was very sad too. The whole community is very hurt by what happened and we don’t even know if there is going to be another Cemetery Mass again’
A violent brawl during Cemetery Sunday Mass in Portlaoise has placed doubts over the future of the event.
A Councillor has called for a meeting between Laois Traveller Action Group, Gardai and Laois County Council following the violent scenes at Portlaoise Cemetery at the weekend. Two people required hospital treatment and four were arrested when two groups of Travellers clashed at the cemetery last Sunday.
Councillor and St Peter and Paul’s Cemetery Committee member Caroline Dwane Stanley says there is an onus on the Traveller community in Laois to take action following the incident.
Cllr Dwane Stanley said the violence at the cemetery had placed a question mark over the future of the annual blessing of the graves in Portlaoise. She said it was hard to convey the level of upset caused by the violence at the cemetery.
Cllr Dwane Stanley said there was around 3,000 people present during the disturbing outbreak of violence and she witnessed one grown man in tears over the incident. She said there appeared to be some level of organisation behind the violence and she believed weapons had been hidden nearby beforehand.
“There was a bit of an issue last year in the graveyard. It didn’t escalate to what happened this time,” said Cllr Dwane Stanley.
“What we need is people from the Travelling community calling it out,” said Cllr Dwane Stanley.
“It was shocking. It was very sad too. The whole community is very hurt by what happened and we don’t even know if there is going to be another cemetery mass again,” said Cllr Dwane Stanley.
She was very upset that the Monsignor was calling for the violence to stop from the altar during the event. “They weren’t stopping, they weren’t listening to him. They kind of pretend to be so religious and here they are dancing on people’s graves, running around screaming and shouting,” she said, noting that some of their own family members are buried there.
She now plans to table a motion at the next Portlaoise Municipal District meeting calling for a meeting between Laois Traveller Action Group, Laois County Council and Gardaí.
Chair of Laois Traveller Action Group Pauline Flanagan said she couldn’t speak for the board but the meeting sounded like a good idea. “Obviously it is something that we will be discussing at the board,” she said.
Ms Flanagan said it was “appalling” and “awful” that all the great work carried out by Laois Traveller Action Group should be negated by the actions of a small minority of people. She said the only solution was in listening to the good Travellers
Cllr Dwane Stanley said if Gardaí should have powers to prevent trouble makers attending such incidents if they have prior knowledge of potential violence. She said the council own the graveyard and Laois Traveller Action Group can get the message through to their own community that the behaviour last Sunday was completely unacceptable and threatens the future of the Cemetery Mass.
“I just would like to see us working harder together to try and prevent that,” said Cllr Dwane Stanley.
Although it is unclear what happens at meetings of the Laois Local Community Safety Partnership - the new version of the Joint Policing Committee- which meets behind closed doors and excludes the press and local TDs, it is unlikely to be a forum to discuss the issues as it doesn’t include any Traveller representative groups in its present form in Laois.
Ms Flanagan confirmed that no invitation was extended to the Laois Traveller Action Group to have members join the forum.
The incident at the cemetery in Portlaoise has been condemned by Pavee Point and by Laois Traveller Action Group. In a statement issued online, Laois Traveller Action Group said it “wishes to express its strong condemnation of the violence that occurred during the cemetery Mass at St. Peter & St. Paul's Cemetery in Portlaoise on Sunday.
Such behaviour is completely unacceptable under any circumstances. It is especially distressing that these events took place during a Mass dedicated to remembering and honouring deceased members of the wider Laois community.”
“The Cemetery Mass is a time for reflection, respect, and remembrance. The actions witnessed on the day were deeply shocking and detracted from the dignity of an occasion that should have been marked by peace and respect for those who have passed away, as well as for their families and loved ones.
LTAG Management and staff are deeply saddened by this event, however we remain committed to promoting positive community relations in Laois.”