TV star’s fury after traveller kids ‘blocked from Christmas market & forced onto trains heading two hours away’

A TV star has told of his fury after traveller kids were allegedly blocked from a Christmas market and forced on trains bound for Grimsby.

Footage appears to show cops ushering children through Manchester Victoria station on Saturday.

The children were allegedly “forced” onto trains bound for the Lincolnshire fishing port of Grimsby.

Cops had imposed a 48-hour disposal order at around noon on Saturday amid reports of anti-social behaviour on trains.

A clip shows cops appearing to tackle a youngster to the ground after he asked: “What have I done wrong?”

In another video, a youth is heard saying: “Look at this. You’d think we’d killed someone.”

And third clip showed an officer shouting “Get on the train!” – as a girl responds: “Stop pushing, I’m going to fall.”

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty has vowed to lead a march in protest against the shocking scenes.

Irish Traveller Paddy told the : “We are human beings, we are not dog poo.

“It is absolutely appalling and sickening. Those kids have as much right to be there as anyone else.

“They must’ve been terrified being forced onto trains not knowing where they were going.”

Paddy said many members of the Travelling community will gather in Manchester for a “peaceful protest” on Friday.

Equality group The Traveller Movement slammed the “shocking” and “completely unacceptable” police response.

A spokesperson said: “This heavy-handed and discriminatory action has left children upset and distressed.

“Parents are deeply concerned about the treatment that their children have faced.

“These children were simply trying to enjoy the festivities like everyone else.

“But instead they have been unfairly targeted and marginalised.”

Mary Kelly Foy, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gypsies, Travellers and Roma, called for a probe into the scenes.

She said: “On Saturday, there were several incidents of Greater Manchester police violently restricting young Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller children.

“They had come into Manchester city centre to do Christmas shopping.

“Video footage depicted a group of Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller children being dangerously forced on to a train out of the city to stations unknown.”

Foy added: “One child being pushed to the point of nearly falling on to the track.

“Footage also shows a young man being forcibly restrained on the ground and arrested.

“The actions of GMP raise serious questions about its operational approach and decision-making processes.

“This has caused huge distress for the many young people involved, for their families and for those across the Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller communities.”

Greater Manchester’s deputy mayor Kate Green said: “We will not tolerate lawlessness and anti-social behaviour.

“But I want to reassure the community that I expect the police to treat everyone fairly and with respect.

“I will be inviting community leaders to meet me to discuss what has happened.”

Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson said GMP had been given “intelligence” about anti-social behaviour on trains into Manchester.

He said a dispersal order was issued after similar reports around the city centre.

Jackson said: “This included plans for officers to re-route arriving groups back home.

“Our priority is always to protect public safety by preventing incidents of violence and disorder.

“We understand there are feelings of mistreatment and confusion amongst groups of people for being turned away.

“We are determined to address these concerns by working closely with the mayor’s office to engage these communities in Manchester and further afield.”

GMP has been contacted for comment.