The Wholesome Photo of the Month Thu May 09, 2024 11:01 | Anti-Empire
In 3 War Years Russia Will Have Spent $3... Thu May 09, 2024 02:17 | Anti-Empire
UK Sending Missiles to Be Fired Into Rus... Tue May 07, 2024 14:17 | Marko Marjanović
US Gives Weapons to Taiwan for Free, The... Fri May 03, 2024 03:55 | Anti-Empire
Russia Has 17 Percent More Defense Jobs ... Tue Apr 30, 2024 11:56 | Marko Marjanović Anti-Empire >>
A bird's eye view of the vineyard
Alternative Copy of thesaker.is site is available Thu May 25, 2023 14:38 | Ice-Saker-V6bKu3nz Alternative site: https://thesaker.si/saker-a... Site was created using the downloads provided Regards Herb
The Saker blog is now frozen Tue Feb 28, 2023 23:55 | The Saker Dear friends As I have previously announced, we are now “freezing” the blog. We are also making archives of the blog available for free download in various formats (see below).
What do you make of the Russia and China Partnership? Tue Feb 28, 2023 16:26 | The Saker by Mr. Allen for the Saker blog Over the last few years, we hear leaders from both Russia and China pronouncing that they have formed a relationship where there are
Moveable Feast Cafe 2023/02/27 ? Open Thread Mon Feb 27, 2023 19:00 | cafe-uploader 2023/02/27 19:00:02Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of
The stage is set for Hybrid World War III Mon Feb 27, 2023 15:50 | The Saker Pepe Escobar for the Saker blog A powerful feeling rhythms your skin and drums up your soul as you?re immersed in a long walk under persistent snow flurries, pinpointed by The Saker >>
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail supporter? Anthony
Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony
Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony
RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony
Waiting for SIPO Anthony Public Inquiry >>
Voltaire, international edition
Netanyahu soon to appear before the US Congress? It will be decisive for the suc... Thu Jul 04, 2024 04:44 | en
Voltaire, International Newsletter N°93 Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:49 | en
Will Israel succeed in attacking Lebanon and pushing the United States to nuke I... Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:40 | en
Will Netanyahu launch tactical nuclear bombs (sic) against Hezbollah, with US su... Thu Jun 27, 2024 12:09 | en
Will Israel provoke a cataclysm?, by Thierry Meyssan Tue Jun 25, 2024 06:59 | en Voltaire Network >>
|
After Nally's Acquittal: Vigil forTravellers' Rights
national |
rights, freedoms and repression |
feature
Wednesday December 20, 2006 18:36 by Paula Geraghty / Imc Features mspgeraghty at yahoo dot ie
![Report this post to the editors Report this post to the editors](../graphics/report.gif)
Images of Tuesday's vigil at the steps of the Four Courts
"If Padraig Nally had been convicted and received a suspended sentence at least that would have been some acknowledgement of the hurt inflicted on the extended Ward family, and indeed the Traveller community. But Padraig Nally's acquittal means that no wrong or hurt has been done and that is just not acceptable. We are angry and we have every right to be."
"The Nally/Ward Case and the negative media coverage reminded one of events in Mississippi Alabama in the thirties and forties. At times we as a community were on trial and not Padraig Nally. The message which is being received by travellers from this verdict is that our life is worthless and of no value...
"I do not accept for one moment that John Ward being a traveller was of no relevance to this case; it had everything to do with it from the beginning, middle and end. At times more value was placed on who would take care of Nally's live stock- his cattle and sheep, rather than the life of a human being." Martin Collins, Pavee Point
Related links: Go - Move – Shift: Anti-Traveller Racism in Ireland |
Protest against Traveller eviction in Cork |
Out of site, Out of mind -Travellers in Ballymun |
Ireland gives a summer welcome to Citizen Traveller - yet again |
VIDEO: "Myth Busters" - Deconstructing Myths About The Travelling Community |
Travellers Fear Vigilante Tactics in Bundoran
|
Pavee Point
"If Padraig Nally had been convicted and received a suspended sentence at least that would have been some acknowledgement of the hurt inflicted on the extended Ward family, and indeed the Traveller community. But Padraig Nally's acquittal means that no wrong or hurt has been done and that is just not acceptable. We are angry and we have every right to be."
100 people from travelling and settled communities gathered at the main entrance to the Four Courts from 3pm today to show support and solidarity to the Ward Family.
Martin Collins, a member of the Travelling community, welcomed everyone to the vigil. He said that the vigil was called in the aftermath of the 'disappointing verdict where Mr. Nally was acquitted of the manslaughter of John Ward'.
The impartiality of the judicial system was questioned and in particular the need to re-examine the selection process for juries to ensure its representative composition was stressed. Collins also said that racism was at the centre of this issue, both individual and institutional. He ended on a message of hope, saying that it was easy to get disillusioned but that doing nothing was not an option.
Pavee Point Statement
"Pavee Point is deeply concerned at the implications of the acquittal of farmer Padraig Nally in today’s retrial for the manslaughter of John Ward. Pavee Point believes that today’s judgement will significantly undermine the belief of Travellers that they can get a fair trial in Ireland.
"Pavee Point believes that it is difficult to see how a fair minded jury could acquit Nally on the basis of the evidence that showed that John Ward was killed by a shot in the back as he was departing Nally’s farm, after he had been beaten 20 times by a wooden plank and after he had already been shot.
The outcome of this re-trial sends out a message to all the Traveller community in Ireland that it is acceptable to kill a Traveller who is perceived to be trespassing or ‘up to no good’. The question that needs to be asked is that if John Ward was not a Traveller, would Padraig Nally be walking free tonight?
"There is considerable dismay among Travellers this evening and the thoughts of many are with Marie Ward and her 11 children who have lost a husband and a father.
"Pavee Point has consistently condemned anti social and criminal behaviour from any quarter. Pavee Point has also consistently condemned people who take the law into their own hands, whether this is Travellers or members of the settled community. Pavee Point is concerned that as a result of this judgement there is now a green light to people taking the law into their own hands and that any Traveller who is entering a premises for legitimate or illegitimate purposes can no longer be expected to be afforded fair consideration and/or protection by the law."
Further information: Martin Collins/Ronnie Fay/Terry Battles 01 8780255
Statement from Marie Ward
"John Ward, was a loving husband and father to us, his wife and eleven children. We have to live with the fact that John will never return to us. Our lives will never be the same after his death. The law should not allow Padraig Nally, the man who took my husband’s life, to walk free. No one has a right to take someone elses life away.
"Whenever I or my children go out on to the street we feel people are staring at us. This is a very uncomfortable experience. Padraig Nally killed my husband. My husband was the victim. My husband’s untimely death has been difficult for me and my children to cope with. We must try now and rebuild our lives and we would ask the media to respect our privacy in what is a very upsetting and emotional time for us."
http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2005/07/24/story659...6.asp
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,16....html
images (c) P. Geraghty
![Click on image to see full-sized version justice_protest016.jpg](../cache/imagecache/local/attachments/dec2006/460_0___30_0_0_0_0_0_justice_protest016.jpg)
![Click on image to see full-sized version justice_protest001.jpg](../cache/imagecache/local/attachments/dec2006/460_0___30_0_0_0_0_0_justice_protest001.jpg)
![Click on image to see full-sized version justice_protest004.jpg](../cache/imagecache/local/attachments/dec2006/460_0___30_0_0_0_0_0_justice_protest004.jpg)
![Click on image to see full-sized version justice_protest005.jpg](../cache/imagecache/local/attachments/dec2006/460_0___30_0_0_0_0_0_justice_protest005.jpg)
![Click on image to see full-sized version justice_protest006.jpg](../cache/imagecache/local/attachments/dec2006/460_0___30_0_0_0_0_0_justice_protest006.jpg)
![Click on image to see full-sized version justice_protest007.jpg](../cache/imagecache/local/attachments/dec2006/460_0___30_0_0_0_0_0_justice_protest007.jpg)
![Click on image to see full-sized version justice_protest008.jpg](../cache/imagecache/local/attachments/dec2006/460_0___30_0_0_0_0_0_justice_protest008.jpg)
![Click on image to see full-sized version justice_protest009.jpg](../cache/imagecache/local/attachments/dec2006/460_0___30_0_0_0_0_0_justice_protest009.jpg)
![Click on image to see full-sized version justice_protest010.jpg](../cache/imagecache/local/attachments/dec2006/460_0___30_0_0_0_0_0_justice_protest010.jpg)
|
View Full Comment Text
save preference
Comments (65 of 65)