THE "not in my backyard" attitude which prevailed around the country in relation to housing travellers was understandable, but they had constitutional rights and were entitled to be treated equally before the law, Mr Justice Kinlen said in the High Court yesterday.
It was with reluctance, he said, that he would affirm a Circuit Court order concerning one family of travellers which is encamped on a site in the centre of Tralee, Co Kerry, and which is alleged to be holding up a £10 million apartment development.
The Circuit Court had ordered four families on the site to leave.
On May 30th Mr Justice Kinlen had been told that three families on the site had moved to a temporary halting site.
He adjourned the matter a fortnight ago as he had been incensed that the remaining family might be put out on the road.
It was becoming quite difficult to see how council officials could carry out their functions when the populace and elected representatives opposed them on all occasions and they were threatened with litigation.
Because there were business people involved who had plans for improving the heart of Tralee and providing a great deal of employment, the plan could not be held up.
Mr Justice Kinlen said he would also vacate the order made against the local urban district council that it provide a suitable halting site for the families within a period of one month.