'Please stop the feuds': Traveller Actor John Connors calls for peace after mother attacked on roadside

David Raleigh

Award-winning Irish actor, writer, director and Traveller man, John Connors has called on members of the Travelling community involved in feuding to step back from violence and “return to God”.

Mr Connors spoke out on social media following a savage attack on a Limerick Traveller woman, at Birdhill Co Tipperary, last Saturday.

Scarlett Faulkner, (20s), was beaten about her head by at least one person who was armed with a long implement, at the side of the R494 roadway, situated between Birdhill village and the M7 motorway.

Others who were at the scene brandished a hatchet and a sword-like weapon.

The shocking attack occurred around 5.30pm as motorists passed by in their cars and filmed the incident on mobile phones.

Video footage of the attack appeared to show a young female filming the assault while standing beside another female who appeared to be using a weapon to repeatedly strike a person who was lying motionless on the roadside, and who is believed to have been Scarlett Faulkner.

On Monday, Ms Faulkner’s sister, Victoria Faulkner, posted a message on social media asking people to stop sharing a photograph of her sister lying in her hospital bed.

Scarlett Faulkner remains gravely ill at Cork University Hospital, having been transferred there from University Hospital Limerick.

The mother of one from Limerick City had been initially airlifted by helicopter from the scene of the attack due to the seriousness of the injuries she suffered.

In a video entitled “Please stop the feuds!”, posted on his Facebook account, Mr Connors said: “I just have to comment on this, even though I know it's going to get me a bit of stick, but that video that's going around, of that traveler woman who was hurt in the feud, was absolutely horrendous.”

“I'm gonna ask people to pray for that woman, and hopefully she pulls through and is in good health when she comes out of it too, please God.”

Mr Connors pleaded with “the people who are involved in these feuds, or encouraging feuds” to stop.

“The traveller feuds are getting out of hand,” said Mr Connors.

Appealing to the Traveller community to stand for peace, Mr Connors said: “Lads, what are we doing? We're destroying our own community. Look at me, I'm a walking, talking hypocrite, sinner. I've been involved in feuds myself, at 11/12, years of age, I was involved in feuds with hairy grown men coming after me in the streets.”

“This is what happens. Okay? This is the reality: Children get involved, the women get involved. Violence, day in, day out. You can't go out for fear of looking over your shoulder. There’s no look from it all, very bad look, in fact, from every bit of it.”

“We need to stop this. We need to stop killing ourselves up and down the country and videoing it all and putting it all on camera.”

“As I said, I know all about this world, and I can tell you, been there, done that, and there's not an hour's look in it,” reiterated Mr Connors.

Asking people to turn their backs on violence and turn to religion, he said: “We need to stop, we need to stop the violence, we need to stop the feuding. And you know what the key is to stopping — Go back to God.”

“That's what we got to do. Go back to God. Understand that there is an afterlife. There is a judgment day, and we'll all be judged for our actions. Okay?”

“So that's my advice to you, go back to God, pick up your rosary beads, go back to your faith, and that will stop it, because only God can stop this.”

“And everybody say a prayer for that woman again. God bless her. Please be to God that she will be alright.”

Gardaí at Nengah, north Tipperary, have appealed for witnesses to the assault on Ms Faulkner.

The Garda investigation team working on the case has specifically sought information about the movements and whereabouts of two vehicles suspected of being used by those involved in the assault.

“In particular, Gardaí are seeking information on the movements of two vehicles, a grey 162 Ford Transit van and a blue 161 Volkswagen Touran people carrier, travelling in convoy or driving dangerously between 4.30pm and 5.30pm on Saturday March 21st in and around Birdhill village, the townlands of Cooleen, Crag Cross, Shower Cross, Kylebeg, Annaholty and Thornhill, all in Co. Tipperary,” said a garda spokesperson.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station on (067) 50450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.