There was controversy on social media websites last night after several businesses reportedly closed for the burial of five Carrickmines halting site fire victims at Crosstown cemetery.
A photograph of Bride Street public car park, showing barriers and a “closed” sign at its entrance, led many to assume it had been closed to prevent members of the Traveller community from parking there.
David Minogue, communications officer for Wexford County Council, clarified the reason for the closure:
It is difficult to predict the scale of carpark requirements for today’s funerals of the victims of the Carrickmines Fire Tragedy, so in order to ensure sufficient parking spaces within a reasonable distance of the church, the decision was taken to designate Bride Street carpark as an overflow carpark for the funeral. In order to ensure its availability today, it was necessary to close the carpark last night, as it otherwise would have been occupied by the public as is the normal daily routine.
Irish actor John Connors, who plays Patrick Ward on RTÉ’s crime drama Love/Hate, also commented on the closures:
So Wexford town shut down all its pubs and it plans to do the same thing tomorrow because of the funeral of the Carrickmines victims. Wexford has a long history for its ill treatment of travellers, so I guess that hasn’t changed. How much more sh*t does this family have to go through?
As debate continued, a rumour emerged that Gardaí had advised bars and hotels to close for the day. However, this rumour remains unsubstantiated. This morning, a spokesperson for Clayton Whites Hotel said the hotel had received no such advice and that “it’s business as usual today.”
Local pubs including Maggie May’s also planned to remain open.