GROUPS representing travellers said yesterday they had no knowledge of Thomas Stokes. Stokes claimed during his trial that he was a traveller and had championed travellers' rights.
Father Frank Murphy of the Parish of the Travelling People in Dublin said the organisation had no knowledge of Stokes and his claims were "not helpful" to the work of such groups.
Father Paddy Kelly, who has worked with travelling people in the Finglas area for many years, said Stokes was "not known at all" in such circles.
A spokeswoman at the Pavee Point Travellers Centre in Dublin said Stokes had no involvement with the organisation.
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The Irish Travellers' Movement also said that Stokes had no connection with that organisation.