Kildare activist condemns violent scenes at Laois cemetery
James Stokes is a Sinn Féin activist and member of the Travelling Community
A Kildare-based activist has condemned a public brawl which broke out at a cemetery in County Laois last weekend.
The violent scenes took place at the Annual Mass ceremony at SS Peter & Paul’s Cemetery on Sunday, May 31 last.
According to Laois Live / Leinster Express, 3,000 people were in attendance at the event, which included a mix of members of the public and members of the Irish Travelling Community.
The outlet also reported that it was heard during a recent Portlaoise District Court sitting that ‘tensions were high’ at the event and that there was a large garda presence.
The court was told that one male was ‘quite aggressive’ and ‘instigated a physical altercation’ involving members of the Travelling Community.
REACTION
Following the incident, Pavee Point, which is an organisation that works to promote the rights of the Travelling and Roma Communities, criticised the actions of those who took part in the brawl.
And now, Sinn Féin activist and Irish Traveller James Stokes, who is based in Newbridge, has also come out to condemn the violent scenes.
Mr Stokes, who previously ran in the 2024 Local Elections, told the Leinster Leader: “I don't necessarily consider myself a spokesperson for all things Traveller, but given the severity of the incident, I felt the need to speak out on it”.
He added: “Any acts of violence from any person or community must always be condemned; anyone involved really must take a look at themselves, because their actions will damage the reputation of those disconnected from this scenario.”
Mr Stokes also said that incidents such as the one which occurred over the weekend ‘will add to an already negative view that some have on the Traveller Community’.
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