New inter-agency initiative aims to help Travellers stop local feuding

The results were unveiled as a new conflict resolution strategy for Travellers living in the four midland counties, including Westmeath, was launched on Monday last. The Midland's Traveller Conflict & Mediation Initiative was developed through interagency co-operation in Westmeath, Longford, Offaly and Laois. This initiative builds upon the work of the Traveller Interagency Groups in the four counties. The research, which was carried out in the Midlands into Traveller related conflict was conducted by both statutory and community agencies and Travellers in order to develop insights into the area.Key findings include confirmation that violent conflict is hurting Travellers and damaging the work of development programmes and that Traveller families embroiled in violent conflict have expressed a strong desire to end violence. There is also evidence that some families are introducing young children to conflicts and passing the feud on to the next generation. The research also found that there are many conflicting perceptions at play which are driving and exacerbating conflicts both with the Traveller community and between Travellers and agencies.Avoidance has been the main response both among Travellers and among agencies. This avoidance is fuelled by apathy and lack of alternatives as well as other considerations such as fear and safety. There are also widespread perceptions among Travellers regarding bias by some gardaí with sections of families involved in conflict and a belief that a "divide and conquer approach" is being used. There is also a perception that gardaí are unwilling or unable to enforce law and order in some cases with the result that Travellers are "left to sort it out themselves". Dr Sinead Ni Shuinear examined conflict in the Traveller community. "Travellers are bewildered and distraught by the spiralling violence in which their community has become embroiled. Conflict of course is nothing new in this or any other human society but why this particular society should be responding in this way at this time is a subject, not only of media alarmism but more urgently of reflection among those whose families are - literally - in the firing line," she said in her findings. She said that there was a consensus that the conflict is being expressed in "unprecedented and deeply alarming ways" specifically in its shift from one-to-one to a group activity and in the recent introduction of weaponry. The research also compared the experience of Travellers to the indigenous people of North American and Australia. The common experience points to marginalisation and exclusion providing a context where conflict is internalised within that community. The strategy recommends the establishment of a Pilot Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programme with the credibility and legitimacy to effectively intervene in conflicts involving the Traveller community and which has the capacity and resources to make a positive contribution to resolving these conflicts. A programme of training and dialogue is now being initiated and will run in tandem with the establishment of the ADR Service. The strategy recommends: 1. Working in partnership with stakeholders in the midlands and dealing with referrals from these stakeholders (Local authorities, Traveller support groups etc). 2. Proactively working to respond to and resolve conflicts. 3. Dealing with referrals from the Garda Siochana and the courts. "Traveller related conflict is a sensitive and complex area with many different issues presenting themselves. Interagency co-operation is viewed as an essential prerequisite in addressing these issues," said Fergal Fox of the HSE Traveller Health Unit at the launch of the strategy in Tullamore on Monday. "This initiative will compliment the work of the existing Traveller Inter-Agency Groups in the Midlands and each Inter-agency Group will support the Pilot ADR Programme and serve as crisis/incident monitoring committee." "An Gardaí Siochana are very committed to this Conflict and Mediation Initiative and have been part of the process since the outset. We are willing to try new approaches to manage and transform the conflict, " added Sergeant Tony Quinn. The Midland Travellers Conflict and Mediation Initiative has grown out of the work of the Offaly Traveller Inter-Agency Group, with the research and development of the strategy being undertaken by Sean McGearty, Ian White and Hannagh McGinley. It's co-funded by The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.