Press Release 12th October 2006
Highly regrettable decision by Court of Criminal Appeal
Today’s decision by the Court of Criminal Appeal to quash the conviction of Co Mayo farmer Padraig Nally for the manslaughter of John Ward and the order for retrial is highly regrettable.
"The prospect of once again dragging this case through the courts and media is not a welcome one for either the Ward family or the Traveller community generally. I regret that the Ward family will once again have to relive this horrendous experience and again hear the terrible details of how their loved one was killed." says Martin Collins, Pavee Point Assistant Director.
The fallout from the original trial of Mr Nally; disturbing responses from some quarters of both the print and broadcast media, inflammatory comments by some prominent politicians, general anti Traveller discourse on the airwaves severely impacted on Travellers in Irish society and its effects are still felt by Travellers and Traveller organisations throughout the country today. "In effect the Traveller community and Traveller organisations felt we were on trial" says Mr Collins.
Pavee Point calls on the media to respect the privacy of the Ward family at this time and to show restraint in their reporting of the retrial. We call on politicians to show greater political leadership in the face of anti Traveller discourse. We call on the media to follow its own NUJ Guidelines on Race Reporting with its specific guidelines on reporting on the Traveller community.
Pavee Point reserves further comment to allow justice take its course.
ENDS
For further information please contact Martin Collins or Terry Battles 01 8780255 Ext: 103.
Terry Battles
Information Coordinator,
Pavee Point Travellers Centre,
46 North Great Charles St.,
Dublin 1
Ph: 01 8780255