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

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