Protest march held over Athlone IPAS centre

A march through Athlone took place on Saturday last in protest at the establishment of the new accommodation centre for international protection applicants in Lissywollen.

The protesters, who carried Tricolours, placards and banners which read 'Ireland Is Full', 'Athlone Stands Together' and 'No IPAS Centre Here', gathered outside the facility in Lissywollen and marched on the Ballymahon Road into town before continuing along Church Street and over the town bridge.

A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said its officers had been in attendance at the protest, and that it passed off peacefully.

"Gardaí were in attendance at a public gathering in Athlone, Co. Westmeath on Saturday afternoon, August 16," a spokesperson for the Garda press office told the Westmeath Independent.

"Those involved dispersed peacefully and no offences were disclosed.

"An Garda Síochána has no statutory role in designating when or where public assemblies occur. An Garda Síochána’s role is to ensure public safety and that the constitutional rights of members of the public are protected."

Four Athlone councillors, Paul Hogan, Frankie Keena, Aengus O'Rourke and John Dolan are currently engaged in an ongoing High Court action challenging the decision to establish the temporary accommodation centre in the town.

Their case has been adjourned on multiple occasions, most recently until September 26.

It was originally announced that the Athlone centre would accommodate up to 1,000 male international protection applicants, but in a recent statement, the Athlone councillors taking the High Court case said the number of people being accommodated at the site had reduced to "approximately 50" residents.