Sir, – Michael Treacy’s assertion (October 21st) that there are many examples over the years of Britain intervening to combat ethnic cleansing is risible. The expansion of the British empire depended on ethnic cleansing on an industrial scale to permit the “civilised” settlers to make their homes on other people’s land. But to describe the eviction of the Dale Farm Travellers as “ethnic cleansing” of Irish people is going way too far.
The eviction of the Travellers was due to their flagrant and repeated flouting of the law of the land. Yes, the eviction was disproportionate and costly but the Travellers must accept their share of the blame for that. Britain has much to be ashamed of in its treatment of the Irish in the past, but it has also provided Irish people like me with the opportunities that successive Irish governments denied their own people.
The Dale Farm story is regrettable, but let’s get it in perspective. – Yours, etc,