Sir, - We are three students studying for the Junior Certificate Schools Programme. We are writing to you in reply to John Flannery's statement about Travellers on Tuesday May 12th.
Our families and ourselves were annoyed and shocked to read what Mr Flannery was saying. We are human beings and we should be treated the same as any other teenagers. We hurt deeply in our hearts when he likened us to animals. We are not animals. Does Mr Flannery have children? If he has, how would he like them to be hurting as much as we are now? We have settled friends but we have also tried to make friends with some settled people who will not befriend us.
Travellers and settled people are the same, no matter what. Why should we, as Mr Flannery said, be fitted with "microchips"? We are 14-year-old-girls. We've done nothing wrong. We have respect for ourselves and our families. We are called Travellers because we travel, it is our culture and we have pride in our culture.
If Mr Flannery complains that Travellers don't work, why doesn't he set a good example by giving a Traveller a job or does he know anyone who would give a Traveller a job? Bet he doesn't. We would like a letter of apology from Mr Flannery, although at this point it will not heal the damage already done. - Yours, etc., Lisa McDonagh, Linda McDonagh, Margaret Collins,
St Thomas Junior Education Centre, Clonshaugh Road, Coolock, Dublin 17.