Fianna Fáil councillor criticised for anti-Traveller comments

Alert DateJanuary 17, 2013 Country: Ireland Address: Donegal County Council General Type: Racist discourse Racism and discrimination phenomena: Intra-ethnic
Groups affected / Interested in: Roma & Travelers Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Employment - labour market, Housing, Health and social protection, Political discourse -parties - orgs, Anti-racism, Integration - social cohesion Hate speech/Racist Discourse Medium: Internet
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin Irish
Victims Gender Female, Male
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number N/A
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin Irish
Perpetrator Gender Male
Perpetrator Age 66+
Perpetrators Number N/A
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

Fianna Fáil (FF) Councillor Sean McEniff of Donegal County Council was critcised for stating on the Ocean FM radio station that whilst not being racist or bigoted,  he was stating "facts" and believed that “there should be an isolated community of them some place – and give them houses and keep them all together” and further, that "[y]ou wouldn’t want it beside you nor I wouldn’t want it beside me [as they] wreck homes” he told the station.

His statement - made in the context of Donegal County Council's plans to provide Travellers with a house in Ballyshannon costing over €230,000 - was not backed by his own party saying that he was “expressing a personal opinion. Fianna Fáil is committed to equality and has done more than any other political party to advance the cause of travellers’ rights over the last decade.” Further, Sinn Féin TD for Donegal North East Pádraig Mac Lochlainn demanded for FF to take disciplinary action against McEniff as "[a]nti-traveller racism in all forms is unacceptable in Ireland, and it is mind boggling to think that Councillor McEniff would think ethnic slurs are tolerable."

 

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