Dale Farm: Bishops voice concern; judge halts eviction

Traveller family last summer - pic ICN

As bailiffs prepared to begin evicting Irish Traveller families from the Dale Farm site near Wickford in Essex this afternoon, the Bishops of Brentwood and Chelmsford issued the following statement:

"As Anglican and Roman Catholic Bishops in Essex we stand by our previous commitment to be involved in negotiating a peaceful settlement to the Dale Farm dispute. We are both deeply distressed by what is occurring on the site and we are praying for a peaceful and equitable outcome for all parties concerned."

Both Bishops have visited Dale Farm in recent weeks.

Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell, Anglican Bishop of Chelmsford
Right Reverend Thomas McMahon, Roman Catholic Bishop of Brentwood

* LATEST NEWS: Around 5pm this evening the BBC reported that residents have a last-minute court injunction restraining Basildon Council from clearing the site pending a further High Court hearing on Friday.

Mr Justice Edwards-Stuart granted the injunction at London's High Court on the basis that there was a realistic apprehension that the measures to be taken - while genuinely believed in by the council - "may go further" than the terms of the enforcement notices.

He said: "Having regard to the fact there is no fixed date for starting these - but they are imminent - I do not see that any serious injustice will be caused if the actual implementation of any measures will not take place before the end of this week."