Councillors welcome outcome of High Court hearing on Athlone IPAS centre

Four Athlone-based councillors involved in a legal challenge over the Athlone International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) Centre in Lissywollen have welcomed the outcome of High Court proceedings yesterday (Wednesday)

The Athlone councillors, Aengus O'Rourke, John Dolan, Frankie Keena and Paul Hogan, in a statement, welcomed Ms. Justice Emily Farrell’s deferral of her decision on whether or not to grant a stay of six months to the State in relation to the site in Lissywollen.

The councillors described the outcome as “positive”.

In a joint statement, they said: “This challenge was taken on planning and environmental grounds and last December, the Department conceded the case and subsequently the site was an unauthorised development due to the Statutory Instrument being invalid.

“The State subsequently sought a stay of six months on the site, which was initially sought in February and has been sought on a number of occasions since then.

“We recognise the right to seek international protection and we also had a significant concern with the State’s expectation for these men to remain in substandard tented accommodation for another winter.

The councillors' statement said that before the next sitting on July 21 the High Court has requested the State to “produce draft legislation to definitely demonstrate how it intends to regularise the site”.

“Secondly, the High Court has proposed for the orderly substantial reduction of residents from the site to more suitable and appropriate accommodation.”

“We would like to thank our Senior Counsel Oisín Collins, our BL David O’ Brien and Patrick Cunningham of Cunningham and Co Solicitors, Dublin for the legal advice and expertise throughout.

“We would also like to thank the people of Athlone for their ongoing unwavering and unstinting support.”