Gardai in Ennis, Co Clare, yesterday served court summonses on a number of travellers whose caravans have been obstructing the entrance to a special school for handicapped children in the town. Bus services to St Clare's School were suspended last Friday because Bus Eireann and school authorities feared that the presence of five caravans and a number of vans on the narrow road to the school posed a threat to the safety of the schoolchildren and travellers' families.
A Garda spokesman at Ennis station said yesterday: "Four travellers are being prosecuted under the Road Traffic Act 1961. We will monitor the situation daily, between now and Friday, when the court sits. If the travellers do not move on, summonses will be issued daily."
The school principal, Miss Eileen Jones, said yesterday: "Only 22 kids out of 53 were able to turn up for school today, because no buses can pass the caravans. It is tough on the kids, many of whom are dual-handicapped, because their only friends are here at school.
"It is a very off-putting situation. A parent said to me this morning she won't be bringing her kids in tomorrow, because of the intimidation she suffered from the travellers today."
Mr Colm Flynn, a parent of two girls attending St Clare's and a member of the school's board of management, said yesterday:
"The school is being isolated by the travellers. We respect their rights but they obviously don't respect ours. The parents are being exploited in this situation and we can do without this extra pressure."
Since last December, when the High Court ordered Clare County Council to close the Drumcliffe halting site in Ennis, the town has been without a serviced site for the travelling community.
Ms Kathleen Casey, owner of two caravans beside St Clare's School, said yesterday: "We've been given summonses and I'll go to prison if I have to. It's not completely our fault. There is no place for us to go.
"All we're asking for is a temporary site for us to go to. What are we supposed to do?"
At Monday's meeting of Clare County Council, members agreed to adopt a variation to the county development plan which will facilitate the identification of locations for halting sites, although it is understood it will take several months to develop them.