Em I think you are failing to distinguish between Irish Travellers (Gypsies, often called Pikeys in the UK,) and Roma. Not to say that elements within either g

Em I think you are failing to distinguish between Irish Travellers (Gypsies, often called Pikeys in the UK,) and Roma. Not to say that elements within either group haven't been responsible for some of the things you mention, or that there aren't any similarities. But in general they are very different groups with a different relationship to "regular" society in the UK (and Ireland for that matter.)