BARNARDOS have announced today a dramatic increase in the number of parents threatening to give their disobedient children to the tinkers.
The childrens charity said that over 61,400 parents have admitted to using the term in order to frighten their child into being good.
Chairman, Alan Wyley, said the number has almost doubled since 2004.
It seems parents are becoming more lose lipped with the threat since the start of the recession.
This can have a devastating impact on the childs perception of the travelling community and In some cases can lead to prejudice against the group in later life.
The last major epidemic of the tinker threat was recorded in the 1980′s when a whopping 68% of Irish parents admitted to using the phrase.
One 34-year-old man, who wishes to remain anonymous, told WWN today that he blames his parents for his irrational fear of travellers.
I was first diagnosed with tinkerphobia in 2001.
A traveller called to my door looking to see if I was interested in buying carpets. I panicked and locked myself into the house for several weeks. he said.
A worried relative knocked down the mans door and found the 4 stone man, naked and cowering behind a couch in his sitting room.
The doctors said I was very lucky to be alive. I ran out of food in the first week, surviving only on water. he added.
Barnardos are appealing to parents to stop threatening their bold children with the tinkers and have suggested using other ethnic groups like Roma Gypsies or Middle Eastern Refugees instead.
