Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Appeal for Calm after Traveller stabbed

Published: 5 September, 2009

Newry and Armagh Sinn Féin MLA, Cathal Boylan, has appealed for calm within the travelling community in Armagh City after a stabbing incident in the Mullacreevie Park estate.

'Whilst details are sketchy at the moment, it appears an individual threw a large brick threw the window of a bungalow, apparently mistaking it for the home of a member of the travelling community between 4 and 5 pm. When the culprit was challenged a man was stabbed and had to be rushed to hospital. There are also unconfirmed reports that a vehicle was set on fire, though whether this incident is related cannot be clarified at this time.'

The Sinn Fein MLA continued;

'First of all, I hope the man who was stabbed makes a full and speedy recovery, but I am appealing very strongly to the travelling community in Armagh City, mostly based in the Mullacreevie Park and Callanbridge Park areas, to refrain from any thoughts of retaliation or of taking the law into their own hands. We have seen recently in Belfast how these things can escalate and how dangerous they can become.'