European blood
10-16-2011, 02:06 AM
Anger as judge says Roma children are raised to steal
A DISTRICT Court judge has come under fire for accusing Roma parents of "raising their children to steal".
Judge Aingeal Ni Chonduin's remarks at the Children's Court in Dublin have been described as reinforcing racial stereotypes against Roma people.
The Immigrant Council of Ireland said the judge's remarks were "inappropriate and unfair", while Pavee Point Travellers Centre said they further "scapegoated" the Roma community.
The judge was commenting after a 16-year-old mother of one admitted theft of several pairs of shoes and handling stolen clothes.
culture
The court heard she had given birth at the age of 15 and was still with the 20-year-old father of her child.
Judge Ni Chonduin remarked: "That seems to be the culture -- the family owns her. That is the way the families function, unfortunately, to go about to steal."
Judge Ni Chonduin also said it seemed that the children were "raised" to steal.
"It is a different culture; it does not go with our ways and our shops are being robbed blind. I feel sorry for these children."
The girl had admitted theft of €320 worth of children's shoes from at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, in Dublin, on June 11, and possessing stolen underwear, taken from a shop in Dublin city centre in July.
The Immigrant Council of Ireland said it felt the judge's remarks were unfair to the Roma community.
"To draw conclusions about a whole culture based on a court case is inappropriate and unfair," a spokeswoman said.
"It is unfortunate that the judge's comments just reinforce prejudice and negative stereotypes."
Pavee Point, which runs a Roma programme, expressed disappointment.
"It is not part of Roma culture or any culture that I know of to raise children to steal," a spokeswoman said.
deviant
"The vast majority of Roma parents would be horrified with that suggestion. It's not helpful for anybody in authority to make comments that only serve to stereotype and scapegoat an already marginalised community.
"I'm sure there are some members of every community who are not raising their children correctly and are engaged in deviant behaviour, but that doesn't mean the whole community is."
The girl in the case was given a back-dated seven-day sentence and fined €200.
http://www.herald.ie/news/anger-as-judge-says-roma-children-are-raised-to-steal-1927828.html
A DISTRICT Court judge has come under fire for accusing Roma parents of "raising their children to steal".
Judge Aingeal Ni Chonduin's remarks at the Children's Court in Dublin have been described as reinforcing racial stereotypes against Roma people.
The Immigrant Council of Ireland said the judge's remarks were "inappropriate and unfair", while Pavee Point Travellers Centre said they further "scapegoated" the Roma community.
The judge was commenting after a 16-year-old mother of one admitted theft of several pairs of shoes and handling stolen clothes.
culture
The court heard she had given birth at the age of 15 and was still with the 20-year-old father of her child.
Judge Ni Chonduin remarked: "That seems to be the culture -- the family owns her. That is the way the families function, unfortunately, to go about to steal."
Judge Ni Chonduin also said it seemed that the children were "raised" to steal.
"It is a different culture; it does not go with our ways and our shops are being robbed blind. I feel sorry for these children."
The girl had admitted theft of €320 worth of children's shoes from at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, in Dublin, on June 11, and possessing stolen underwear, taken from a shop in Dublin city centre in July.
The Immigrant Council of Ireland said it felt the judge's remarks were unfair to the Roma community.
"To draw conclusions about a whole culture based on a court case is inappropriate and unfair," a spokeswoman said.
"It is unfortunate that the judge's comments just reinforce prejudice and negative stereotypes."
Pavee Point, which runs a Roma programme, expressed disappointment.
"It is not part of Roma culture or any culture that I know of to raise children to steal," a spokeswoman said.
deviant
"The vast majority of Roma parents would be horrified with that suggestion. It's not helpful for anybody in authority to make comments that only serve to stereotype and scapegoat an already marginalised community.
"I'm sure there are some members of every community who are not raising their children correctly and are engaged in deviant behaviour, but that doesn't mean the whole community is."
The girl in the case was given a back-dated seven-day sentence and fined €200.
http://www.herald.ie/news/anger-as-judge-says-roma-children-are-raised-to-steal-1927828.html