A co-director for traveller support organisation Pavee Point said he was “absolutely appalled” by the video.
An Garda Síochána have confirmed that a member of the force has been suspended in relation to a video mocking the Traveller community ahead of a charity boxing event.
In the lead-up to the event involving An Garda Síochána and Dublin Fire Brigade at Croke Park last Friday (20 September), a video surfaced of a member of An Garda Síochána mimicking the behaviour of members of the Travelling community in online videos posted in relation to bare knuckle boxing matches.
The Garda, who was wearing a Garda vest and holding a can of cider, was responding to a “call out” from a member of Dublin Fire Brigade in a video that was circulated widely on social media last week.
In a statement issued to JOE on Monday, a Garda spokesperson said:
“A member of An Garda Síochána has been suspended in relation to this matter, pending an ongoing internal disciplinary investigation.”
The suspension comes after traveller support organisation Pavee Point issued a strong statement criticising the video on Friday and calling on Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to investigate the issue and to take disciplinary proceedings.
The statement included the following comments from Martin Collins, co-director of Pavee Point.
“I have to say that I’m absolutely appalled at the behaviour of these people, who I understand some to be staff of the fire brigade and others to be members of An Garda Síochána,” Collins said.
“In particular, I am shocked at the behaviour of members of An Garda Síochána.
“They are in positions of responsibility and hold a lot of authority and they should exercise this with discipline and dignity.
“Their behaviour here only serves to reinforce the stereotype that Travellers are inherently violent.
“It is quite clear from their actions and their mimicking of our accent that this is directed at the Traveller community. Therefore, it’s not surprising that many Travellers have no confidence or trust in An Garda Síochána.
“This behaviour only undermines the work of Pavee Point in trying to develop positive relations between the Traveller community and An Garda Síochána.
“We are calling on Commissioner Drew Harris to investigate this issue and instigate disciplinary proceedings accordingly.
“The same obviously applies to the staff of the fire brigade.
“We are also calling on the social media companies, on whose platforms this footage was shared, to withdraw the videos immediately.”
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