Waterford is left divided over Roma racism' row

A number of business owners in Waterford have said many of their customers no longer shop in the city centre for fear of harassment by a “gang” which “happens to be” of Roma ethnicity.

Last weekend’s unruly scenes outside a home occupied by members of Waterford’s Roma community drew widespread condemnation, amid concern that a strain of virulent racism had emerged in one of the country’s most recession-ravaged areas.

Some local businesspeople claim ...