8 THE IRISH DAILY STAR, Monday October 12 2015

NATION STILL IN SHOCK AT HALTING SITE HORROR

Groups warn of housing troubles

RESPONSE: Minister Alan Kelly

SOME travellers have been forced to live in overcrowded and dangerous situations due to a housing crisis, representatives have claimed.

They are a minority who have been in Ireland for centuries, according to the Irish Traveller Movement (ITM), and experience high levels of prejudice.

The ITM said: “Many have to endure living in intolerable con-ditions, with approximately one third having to live without access to the basic facilities of sanitation, water and electricity. This leads to ongoing health problems among the traveller community.”

Environment Minister Alan Kelly said: “The travelling com-munities own representative groups have been liaising with the local services to assist in any way they can. The Civil Defence service is assisting the co-ordi-nated effort to deal with the aftermath of this terrible situation.

Difficult“As minister with responsibili-

ty for community, my depart-ment will be supporting the trav-eller community over the coming very difficult days.”

Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre has commended firefighters for putting their lives on the line to rescue people.

But co-director Ronnie Fay claimed: “Pavee Point is con-cerned that many traveller fami-lies throughout Ireland are being forced to live in overcrowded and dangerous situations due to the impact of the housing crisis.

“This is in addition to the cuts made by the Government to trav-eller accommodation under the guise of austerity measures with the budget reduced from 40 mil-lion euro in 2008 to 4 million euro in 2013.

“We call on the Government to reinvest in travellers and amelio-rate the savage cuts that were imposed during austerity.”

I’ve lost the otherhalf of me...

Tara Gilbert Willie Lynch Kelsey Jodie

TORN APART: Amanda Gilbert (on right) with her tragic twin sister Tara

9 THE IRISH DAILY STAR, Monday October 12 2015

NATION STILL IN SHOCK AT HALTING SITE HORROR

Locals to rally around families

SUPPORT: Fr Andrew O’Sullivan

LOCAL parishioners are to fundraise for the victims of the horror blaze that claimed 10 lives in Carrickmines, Dublin, in the early hours of Saturday, a priest has said.

Fr Andrew O’Sullivan — parish priest in neighbouring St Patrick’s Church, Glencullen — said: “It is a time of sadness and great loss for them. People are very much aware of the fragility of life and how these terrible tragedies can happen without any warning or notice.”

He told parishioners at Mass yesterday: “We ask that people wanting to express their solidari-ty with the community, we have spoken to St Vincent De Paul and if people wish to give in some way they may do so.”

More details are due to be announced by the Catholic anti-poverty charity soon. Books of condolence have already been opened in the local area.

PrayersFr O’Sullivan said they prayed

for all the dead and injured during services throughout the parish yesterday.

“We are just remembering them in our thoughts and prayers and on a more practical level the local community are offering their support in every way they can,” he said.

“We are going to work with St Vincent De Paul to see what we can do on a slightly bigger scale to help those who have been left behind by this.”

Speaking after Mass, parishioner Ned O’Connor said: “It is unbe-lievable, two families wiped out on one night. This is one of the biggest tragedies in the country, this fire.”

He said those at the halting site had been good neighbours.

“They never seemed to interfere with anyone — it is a lovely site, they always kept it very well.”

Other members of the local com-munity have paid their respects by laying flowers at the scene.

I’ve lost the otherhalf of me...

Sylvia Connors Tom Connors Mary Jimmy Lynch

THE twin sister of tragic Tara Gilbert — who died in a horrific fire along with her fiance and two children and six other people — has said she has lost her “other half”.

An emotional Amanda Gilbert (27), from Fassaroe in Bray, Co Wicklow, said she hadn’t come to terms with the fact that her twin and her entire family had lost their lives.

The fire that shocked the nation claimed the lives of 10 people — five adults and five young children — at the Glenamuck halting site in Carrickmines, Dublin, on Saturday.

Tara (27), who was pregnant at the time of her death, perished in the inferno along with her fiance Willie Lynch and their two children Kelsey, aged four, and Jodie, eight.

The fire also claimed the life of Mr Lynch’s brother Jimmy Lynch (35).

Willie and Jimmy’s sister Sylvia Connors (25) and her husband Thomas Connors (28), as well as three of their children, Jim, Christy and six-month-old Mary, also died in the blaze.

Another son, five-year-old Michael, was lucky to escape the blaze because he was staying with his grandparents nearby.

DevastationSpeaking exclusively to the Irish Daily Star

last night, Amanda said she could not put into words the devastation she and her family felt.

“She was my other half, I have lost the other half of me,” Amanda said.

The two sisters lived together in Bray before Tara met Willie. Tara was described as a “stay-at-home mum” who loved her children.

“We lived here together, she never lived on the halting site,” Amanda told The Star from the grieving family home.

“They went over to the boyfriend’s relations to visit and then we don’t know what hap-pened next. I can’t describe the devastation. She was a real mother hen, always cooking and cleaning and looking after others.

“Her children were beautiful, they were always happy and smiling. They would always

go over to the site and play with the other kids, it’s so tragic. Her fiance was lovely, he absolutely idolised her. I hope that she died peacefully, and they didn’t suffer.”

The Gilbert sisters grew closer when their mother died five years ago, but extended family from Wexford were quick to come to Amanda’s side when they heard the news.

“It will never sink in, it is just such a tragedy for both families,” Tara and Amanda’s aunt Mary O’Reilly said.

“It’s even more tragic for the Connors, they have lost even more than us.

“Tara was never a Traveller but she was in a relationship with a Traveller. They [the Connors and Lynches] are a really lovely family, lovely people. We just want to thank the community and everyone for their support, they have been wonderful in this tough time.”

The cause of the horrific fire, which started some time after 4am on Saturday, is still not known — but it is being treated as a tragic accident.

SevereFiremen attending the scene had to be

hosed down due to the severe temperatures.An Taoiseach Enda Kenny visited the site

yesterday to pay his respects. He said flags across the country will fly at half-mast on the days of the victims’ funerals.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has stepped in to help accommodate the rest of the residents of the halting site.

The victims of the horror blaze may have been enjoying a “little do” before the fire broke out, a relative said.

Margaret Donohue (35), from Lucan in west Dublin, believed the families were having a gathering and may have fallen asleep.

Ms Donohue — a cousin of one of the families and an in-law of the other — said: “It is horrendous, it is horrible for anybody.”

She added: “It is hard times, they only buried their own mother on New Year’s Eve gone and their grandmother only just three months ago — for this to happen to just the one family is terrible.

“Were they having a little do? I don’t know, probably, just going visiting like any normal person would do I suppose, family members and fell asleep.”

Ms Donohue praised firefighters for their efforts to save lives, after one child was

rescued by a fireman from a mobile home.“He risked his life to save the young fella

which I think was very, very good and heartwarming of him to do,” she said.

Books of condolences have been opened at Leopardstown Shopping Centre, Centra Stepaside, Cabinteely Garda Station, The Market in Belarmine, and Dundrum Town Centre.

A book is also set to be opened at Dublin’s Mansion House today.

TWIN SISTER TELLS OF ANGUISH AFTER 10 DIE IN INFERNO

“It will never sink in, it is just such a tragedy for both families,” Tara and Amanda’s aunt

“It’s even more tragic for the Connors, they

“Tara was never a Traveller but she was in a relationship with a Traveller. They [the Connors and Lynches] are a really lovely

is still not known — but it is being treated

Firemen attending the scene had to be hosed down due to the severe temperatures.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny visited the site yesterday to pay his respects. He said flags

GUTTED: An aerial shot of the destruction at the halting site

PAYING HIS RESPECTS: Enda Kenny talks to locals at the scene yesterday

EXCLUSIVE� Paul HEALY