Popcorn and a pint of Guinness please!
The Equality Authority and travellers group Pavee Point have both called for the article to be withdrawn.
However journalist Brenda Power this afternoon defended the article on RTE’s Liveline, condemning the Equality Authority for attempting to ‘shut down debate’.
This’ll be good!
Martin Collins of Pavee Point defended the group’s criticism of the column.
“The article is full of generalisations, assumptions and stereotypes. She is unleashing her own stereotypes.
“Let’s not confuse free speech with hate speech, as this article constitutes hate speech. It infers all travellers are inherently violent, lazy and drunk.
“It’s populist, sensationalist, dangerous and irresponsible,” he claimed.
And did the reporter quail at this barrage, and promise to faithfully worship at the altar of diversity?
Reader, she did not…
Ms Power then questioned Mr Collins on why the group hadn’t issued a statement condemning the attack on John Joe Nevin.
Mr Collins responded that the group didn’t have time to issue statements on every issue involving a member of the travelling community.
However Ms Power interjected the reason they didn’t do it was because “these feuds and savagery are so common you’d have no time for anything else”
Mr Collins then claimed that the article Ms Power wrote undermined the group’s work.
“I undermined your work? You don’t think someone setting upon an Olympic medallist with a stick with four inch nails in it undermines your work? ” she asked.
Ouch! 2 – nil!
Mr Collins also disputed Ms Power’s claim that the group was trying to shut down debate.
“Everyone has an opinion and everyone should contribute to a debate on issues between travellers and the settled community, we’re all for that”, he said.
However Ms Power disagreed: “You’re not. Once it’s what you want to hear you’re all for it. Once it’s the Irish Times line you’re all for it.”
She claimed that any time the group disagreed with something they went to the Equality authority.
Mr Collins told host Joe Duffy that the group would be making a complaint to the Press Ombudsman about the article.
You couldn’t make it up!