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BAILIFFS ARE PREPARING to enter the Dale Farm site this morning as protests continue against the planned eviction of Travellers from the illegal site.
Twenty-three people were arrested yesterday as police worked to clear protesters. A 40-foot scaffolding tower at the site entrance needs to be taken down before bailiffs can carry out the eviction, and six people chained to barricades will have to be removed, according to the BBC.
The conflict over Dale Farm has simmered since 2001, when Travellers bought and settled on a former scrap yard next to a legal Travellers’ site in the area. A legal battle began soon after, and dragged on for years until the Travellers lost a final appeal last week.
The local authority says it’s a simple planning issue — the 86 families lack permission to pitch homes on the land. The Travellers call it ethnic cleansing.
“I’ve been through a lot of evictions, but I’ve never seen anything like this … they have come in and started a riot that we never wanted,” said resident Kathleen McCarthy, who accused police of roughing up Travellers at the site, injuring three women. “We are being dragged out of the only homes we have in this world.”
Lily Hayes, who identified herself as a human rights observer to the Associated Press, also accused the police of using unnecessary force.
The ambulance service said one woman was taken to a hospital with minor back injuries. Five other people were treated for smoke inhalation, breathing difficulties and a nosebleed.
Authorities said the violence was coming not from residents but from their supporters — anarchists, environmentalists and anti-capitalists who came to the site from across Europe.
Additional reporting by the AP
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If you or I built an illegal house it would be bulldozed rapid time by council,you think those hippies would be in your front yard protesting against that?
My arse.
They are the once that initiated the violence in the first place.
Give them a good bating coppers.
I can’t build an extension onto my house, on my land, without permission. But some people think they can just park up and live there without consequence.
Whether there are plans for the land they are accupying, it doesn’t make a difference. They are there illegally.
You can actually, up to 40m sq to the rear or side (exempted development)
Btw I do agree with your point.
Only to the rear Richard, the sides and front require planning.
I don’t agree with this heavy handed approach but if the ordinary settled community done this we would be treated in the same way. They are not being discriminated against. They broke the planning laws and should be moved on but another suitable piece of land should have been provided before they were evicted.
Why should it?
Because Ronan there only going to go to the nearest layby where there is lack of facilities and a sense of community. Everyone wants to have a sense of community and you can’t deny the travelers that.
Well buy a place in a community then like everyone else, I have nothing against anyone, just people who take and take and give nothing back, and travellers aren’t alone here.
Or rent a place.
You can’t be pushing the way we live onto the travelers Ronan. Its there choice and tradition that they live like that. Whether they can buy or rent a house isn’t the point really. Its like saying to you go live in a halting site. Would you do it? No. So you can’t expect them to live like us.
Buy yourself some land and set up a caravan site on it … How long will it last with no planning permission ?? Not as long as this.. This is a simple black and white issue that has become a traveller /victim issue.. Sort it . Move on
out out out
And there was me thinking travellers liked to travel.
And they talk about human rights abuse in China and the likes – its happening in our back yard !
Ya two girls in picture 5 really look like there civil rights are been breached.
Let’s not forget that this is all amount money! Civil/human rights not the issue here as was proven by C4 documentary… GBP 10 million and they would have left peacefully…hippies assisting the blockade are the biggest fools!
The Comments above are all true in a way but, Travellers are discriminated against big time in Ireland and the UK. Its problem we have to face up to, just like the Aboriginals in Australia.
Apparently when travelers are traveling with caravan on tow and when they stop and detach it it then becomes a home I was told this by a guard myself it’s ridiculous look at if we park incorrectly what happens they have their own law and no respect for anyone time governments and police woke up to this fact in both Britain and Ireland. How do they afford 11 Audi or BMW jeeps by having no home no jobs it’s ridiculous delighted thus is happening as if any Jo bloggs build wrong aurhorities on our backs they have to learn that their lifestyle doesnt mean their own rules and law unto themselves
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