Roma camp goes up in smoke
THE Roma camp in Ballymun was set ablaze last week shortly after its 99 gypsy residents left for a charter flight back to Romania.
Our exclusive pictures show flames and smoke rising from the deserted camp just hours after the last remaining gypsies left following talks with gardai and representatives from Pavee Point.
Firefighters were called to tackle the blaze which was quickly brought under control.
Workers from Fingal County Council moved swiftly onto the camp after it was vacated and secured the site with steel fencing.
The Roma began to leave the camp on Tuesday but women and children continued begging at the roundabout up to last Wednesday morning.
By lunchtime on Wednesday the camp was deserted as the inhabitants prepared for their journey home.
Debris was left strewn around the site and uneaten food left on broken pieces of furniture. Damp mattresses and soggy armchairs highlighted the third world conditions the Roma were living in.
Empty cans of baby food and filthy nappies were scattered around the site and a wad of empty bank bags for coins left on a table.
The Roma had set up a camp on the roundabout at the busy junction just over two months ago.
Motorists complained that gypsy children were putting lives at risk as they dodged through early morning traffic to beg as adults watched from nearby bushes.
Just last month, Northside People reported how children – some as young as 10 - were weaving through busy traffic begging for cash from frustrated drivers.
The aggressive begging tactics shocked locals and the Roma were soon in the national media spotlight.
An alliance of 20 strong non-government organisations (NGOs) came together to highlight the appalling conditions in the camp. However, despite the squalid, makeshift, rain soaked conditions, the Roma claimed the camp was better than their living conditions back in Romania.
The Romanian embassy strongly denied the claims saying that unlike in Ireland, the gypsies were entitled to social benefits in their home country.
Pavee Point – who provided representation to the Roma community – defended their intervention in the crisis.
“We have every confidence in the role we have played over the past number of months in relation to the Roma and that we have not deviated from our remit,” a spokesperson said.
“Pavee Point never ever attempted to undermine or question the integrity of the Department of Justice or the courts to decide on the fate of the Roma on the M50.
“Pavee Point’s exclusive concern from the very start was the humanitarian crisis on the M50 roundabout. We were attempting to highlight the crisis and call on the State services to provide the basic necessities of life - accommodation, food, heating and clothing to allow the Roma live a dignified existence until the department or the courts decided on their fate.
“Pavee Point in its reporting obligations to its funding agencies has always emphasised the need for work with Roma. This has been reflected in our annual reports to funders, submissions and strategic plans. These are freely available for anyone who wishes to inspect them.
“We will of course cooperate with any request from the Government in their enquiries into this matter.”
Our exclusive pictures show flames and smoke rising from the deserted camp just hours after the last remaining gypsies left following talks with gardai and representatives from Pavee Point.
Firefighters were called to tackle the blaze which was quickly brought under control.
Workers from Fingal County Council moved swiftly onto the camp after it was vacated and secured the site with steel fencing.
The Roma began to leave the camp on Tuesday but women and children continued begging at the roundabout up to last Wednesday morning.
By lunchtime on Wednesday the camp was deserted as the inhabitants prepared for their journey home.
Debris was left strewn around the site and uneaten food left on broken pieces of furniture. Damp mattresses and soggy armchairs highlighted the third world conditions the Roma were living in.
Empty cans of baby food and filthy nappies were scattered around the site and a wad of empty bank bags for coins left on a table.
The Roma had set up a camp on the roundabout at the busy junction just over two months ago.
Motorists complained that gypsy children were putting lives at risk as they dodged through early morning traffic to beg as adults watched from nearby bushes.
Just last month, Northside People reported how children – some as young as 10 - were weaving through busy traffic begging for cash from frustrated drivers.
The aggressive begging tactics shocked locals and the Roma were soon in the national media spotlight.
An alliance of 20 strong non-government organisations (NGOs) came together to highlight the appalling conditions in the camp. However, despite the squalid, makeshift, rain soaked conditions, the Roma claimed the camp was better than their living conditions back in Romania.
The Romanian embassy strongly denied the claims saying that unlike in Ireland, the gypsies were entitled to social benefits in their home country.
Pavee Point – who provided representation to the Roma community – defended their intervention in the crisis.
“We have every confidence in the role we have played over the past number of months in relation to the Roma and that we have not deviated from our remit,” a spokesperson said.
“Pavee Point never ever attempted to undermine or question the integrity of the Department of Justice or the courts to decide on the fate of the Roma on the M50.
“Pavee Point’s exclusive concern from the very start was the humanitarian crisis on the M50 roundabout. We were attempting to highlight the crisis and call on the State services to provide the basic necessities of life - accommodation, food, heating and clothing to allow the Roma live a dignified existence until the department or the courts decided on their fate.
“Pavee Point in its reporting obligations to its funding agencies has always emphasised the need for work with Roma. This has been reflected in our annual reports to funders, submissions and strategic plans. These are freely available for anyone who wishes to inspect them.
“We will of course cooperate with any request from the Government in their enquiries into this matter.”
Labels: Gypsy, Ireland, Roma, Romania
posted by Allie @ 12:16 PM
0 Comments
