Disturbances at John D%u2019s Pub, Balbriggan, 4 May 2009

Pavee Point News Statement

5 May 2009

Disturbances at John D’s Pub, Balbriggan, 4 May 2009

Pavee Point Travellers Centre notes with concern the disturbances of 4 May 2009 in John D’s pub in Balbriggan, in which it has been reported Travellers were involved.

Pavee Point considers this disturbance a matter for An Garda Siochána, and encourages any person with any information on the events in question to contact Balbriggan Garda Station.
Pavee Point asserts that, whether Traveller or settled, all people in Ireland are subject to the same laws and any person committing crimes must be held accountable under the law. Travellers must take responsibility for their actions like any other group in society.

The events in Balbriggan should not be allowed to reflect negatively on the Traveller community in general; like the majority population, the vast majority of Travellers will be appalled by these actions, and will now wish for justice to be done and for peace to return to Balbriggan.

Media coverage
Pavee Point notes that media coverage of the events in Balbriggan have tended toward the extremely sensationalist: the Irish Daily Mirror’s front page comment was ‘PUB WAR’ whilst the Herald labelled the disturbance as a riot.

-ENDS-
Pavee Point seeks to make no further comment at this time.

Podcast of the piece on Today FM's 'The Last Word with Matt Cooper'

Note: Pavee Point Spokesperson gave interviews to Today FM (The Last Word with Matt Cooper) and Newstalk (The Right Hook with George Hook) on 5 May.