Concern after 'vile' comments on Nally condolence page

Traveller and Roma group Pavee Point has described some of the comments on the condolence section on RIP.ie for Pádraig Nally as "vile commentary".

Condolences for Mr Nally on the website were closed after a number of posts were seen as being racist against members of the Traveller community.

Mr Nally came to prominence 20 years ago when he shot an intruder at his farm in Co Mayo.

The 81-year-old shot John 'Frog' Ward at his farm near the village of Cross in October 2004.

Mr Nally died on Friday after being unwell for some time.

Pavee Point co-director Martin Collins said the offensive posts were an attempt to polarise the Traveller community and settled community and "sow the seeds of division and hatred".

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Martin Collins said: "We are very concerned at the racist commentary and the vile messages which have been put on social media which have put Pádraig Nally on a bit of a pedestal, and he is portrayed as a hero, and John Ward is being vilified and demonised."

He said the death of Mr Ward 20 years ago created a lot of hurt and trauma.

"I include Pádraig Nally in that as well, he was traumatised and hurt as well, but I think it is time for us to move on and bring some closure to this," Mr Collins added.

He offered his sympathies and condolences to Mr Nally’s family and community.

Mr Collins also accused online platforms of failing to moderate content "quickly".

Vincent Cummins of Cummins Funeral Directors in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo said the book of condolences for Mr Nally was live for 24 hours before he was told there had been complaints.

"They [RIP.ie] contacted me to say that they had received a few complaints from members of the public regarding inappropriate comments on the condolence book.

"As a result of that then, they removed the link for condolences," Mr Cummins said.

Also speaking to Morning Ireland, he said he had never received a request like this before.

Mr Cummins said he would be given access to the messages that were posted, which he could pass on to the family.

"Most of the messages of condolence that were left there were very, very positive and very sympathetic to the passing of Pádraig," Mr Cummins added.

Mr Nally was initially jailed for six years for the manslaughter of John 'Frog' and always maintained he shot Mr Ward in order to protect his home.

His trial heard he was living in fear at the time of the shooting, having been targeted by thieves on a number of previous occasions.

A jury at the Central Criminal Court found him not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter, following the trial in 2005.

That conviction was subsequently overturned on a re-trial in 2006 and Mr Nally was freed.