Protest over Loughloe closure set for Saturday

Athlone man Tommy Connaughton is calling on the people of Athlone to come out in force on Saturday to protest over the imminent closure of Loughloe House. Tommy, from Griffith Street, told the Westmeath Independent yesterday (Tuesday) that he felt compelled to organise a protest when he saw how people in Loughloe were being treated. The protest, which will take the form of a march through the centre of town, will depart from St Mary's Church at noon on Saturday and will walk to St Peter's Church, where Tommy hopes to have speakers organised to address the crowd. "I was waiting for somebody to do something and nobody was doing anything so I decided to organise this," he said, explaining that a close friend was a resident in Loughloe House and seeing how the imminent closure had impacted on his friend was what prompted him to protest. "It's a disgrace that we have no hospital in the town and now they're closing the only respite," he said. "It's been open for 30 years, there's never been an accident in the place and people are well looked after. I think it's just a fob off, it's about money," said Tommy. Urging the people of Athlone to come out and show their support for Loughloe House, Tommy said if people don't come out and support it they deserve to see it close down. "Our main aim is to see the retention of the building. There is always a plan B and a plan C. To close it down without consulting with the people of the town and to not tell them why is just not on," said Tommy. "I think the message should go out that the people just won't stand for it." The march, which will be accompanied by the Athlone Pipe Band, leaves St Mary's Square at 12pm on Saturday.