Hospice chairperson turned down invitation to run for county council seat

The chairperson of the South Westmeath Hospice committee, Clare Lennon, decided not to seek a nomination for the vacant Westmeath County Council seat after being approached in relation to it.

A Fianna Fáil representative suggested to Ms Lennon that she should put her name forward for the vacancy created by Cllr Jamie Moran's resignation. After giving the matter careful consideration, she opted not to do so.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent on Monday, she said one of the factors that influenced her decision was the negativity and abuse that some political representatives receive.

She said the idea of running as a "champion" for the South Westmeath Hospice had been proposed to her by a local representative whom she didn't wish to name.

"It was not something I had ever thought about before, but because I feel so strongly for the hospice I did have to give it some serious thought," she said.

The hospice committee has been engaged in a dispute with the HSE about the long-term future of the service, and the matter has recently gone down a legal route.

As a result, Ms Lennon was limited in what she could say about the hospice at the moment. If she became a member of the county council, she felt she would most likely have to resign as a member of the hospice committee.

"I felt that, for me to push the hospice forward in any way, and to speak out about it, I probably would have had to resign from the committee.

"I weighed it up, and I just felt that the politicians in Athlone could use their positions to support the hospice, and that I was better positioned to stay on the committee for the moment.

"Because I am a nurse and I understand how beneficial the service is to the area, I felt (the hospice committee) was where I was going to do the best work."

She also said the negativity and abuse which some politicians receive on social media and elsewhere had influenced her decision.

"It could be inviting negativity into my life that I don't want for my young children at the moment. That was a big factor in my decision as well," she said.

Ms Lennon, who is director of nursing at Stella Maris Nursing Home in Athlone, urged local representatives to continue their support for the South Westmeath Hospice.

"I'm calling on the councillors, and whoever takes Jamie's seat, to support us and continue supporting us until we can secure the facility in Athlone," she said.