Travellers are living in fear as they go about their day-to-day business due to the fall-out from the sentencing of a Co Mayo farmer, groups said tonight.
The groups - Pavee Point Travellers' Centre, the National Traveller Women's Forum and the Irish Traveller Movement - called on other organisations and opinion leaders to condemn racism against Travellers at this difficult time.
A spokeswoman for the three national Traveller organisations said: "As a result of the fallout from the Nally case Travellers are now living in fear as they go about their business on a day-to-day basis.
"This affects Traveller children in school and Traveller access to a whole range of services. Positive steps need to be taken to address Travellers' precarious and marginalised position within Irish society and the media in general ought to avoid sensationalist reporting which can mislead, promote prejudice, or, is likely to promote incitement to hatred."
The groups also welcomed the cancellation of a planned national rally in support of farmer Padraig Nally who was jailed for six years for the manslaughter of Traveller John Ward.
The representatives said the decision to defer the rally in support of the farmer was the correct one.
The organisations said they felt in the current climate of racism and widespread anti-Traveller sentiment the march would only have served to fuel further racism.
PA