'No one's looking for special treatment, just equal treatment'
How Irish Travellers are still facing illegal discrimination more than 25 years after they were recognised as an ethnic minority
Discrimination against Irish Travellers is illegal.
But activist Martin McDonagh (pictured) said Travellers are still being refused service in hotels and pubs due to their background.
It’s not ‘what pub would you like to go to?’, or ‘I hear so-and-so has music on tonight’.
It’s always ‘Where will we actually get in the door?’.
Mr McDonagh and fellow activist Amy Ward said Irish Travellers desperately need their own representative group in Northern Ireland to combat prejudice - particularly due to its affect on mental health.
“Everyone knows someone who has died from suicide,” Mr McDonagh said.
“And if you can drive that message that these actions (prejudice) are actually having consequences, people might think twice about what they're doing.”
Last week, The Detail revealed that a major strategy by the Department of Education to improve Traveller children’s exam results and school attendance hasn’t been successful.
We found that three-quarters of all Traveller children are still leaving school with fewer than five GCSEs.
Over the next week we’ll be publishing another exclusive on Irish Travellers’ experiences of housing in Northern Ireland. You can help support our work by subscribing and sharing our emails with your friends.
Victims of sexual violence ‘still being failed by the justice system’
More than five years ago, the Gillen review was published into how Northern Ireland’s criminal justice system deals with serious sexual offences cases.
Maria Hassan writes that although some improvements have been made, the justice system is still struggling to cope with social media commentary.
It is illegal to share the identity of any alleged victim of sexual offences.
But social media presents a significant problem.
Digital spaces can easily become infected by prejudicial statements, anonymity violations, harassment, and abuse.
What’s On - Events for Indie News Week
Independent local journalism: Past, present and future
Join The Detail and VIEWdigital for a special event!
We’re hosting a morning of talks and public discussion to mark the first ever #IndieNewsWeek, run by the Public Interest News Foundation.
We’d love to hear from our readers on the sort of news you want to read and how we can do things differently.
When: Tuesday, June 4, 10am-noon
Where: Ulster University, York Street campus, Belfast
To attend, please sign up via this Eventbrite link.
Stand Up for Indie News: Music and comedy night
The Detail and VIEWdigital are also hosting a night of music and comedy to support our independent news journalism.
When: Sunday, June 9, 7pm-10pm
Where: The Black Box, Hill Street, Belfast
Idir Dhá Bhaile - Ó Chív Go Corcaigh (Between Two Homes - From Kyiv to Cork)
Our colleagues in Below The Radar have made an incredible documentary about a family of Ukrainian refugees trying to rebuild their lives in Ireland.
There’s a special screening next month as part of the Docs Ireland festival.
When: Sunday, June 23, 11.15am
Where: Ulster Museum, Belfast
A note from The Detail
Social media algorithms have meant that people don’t always see the news that’s most important to them. In an increasingly fragmented and divisive political landscape, we’re passionate about reaching our readers directly.
We’ll soon be sharing exciting exclusive content with our Substack subscribers that you won’t find on our website.
We want to hear from you. Are there stories you think we should be covering? Email deputy editor Claire Simpson on csimpson@thedetail.tv
And please share with your friends!