SHOCKING CASE OF CHILD LIVING IN HALFWAY HOUSE IN BALLINROBE UNCOVERED - Cllr Paul Lawless, Mayo
Aontú’s Mayo candidate in the General Election has today revealed the shocking case of a child living in a ‘halfway house’ in the county.
Cllr Paul Lawless says he was absolutely shocked to hear that the child is living at the ‘halfway house ‘in Ballinrobe.
Cllr Lawless says
“I have uncovered that this little child is living there. This accommodation is completely unsuitable for any child. People are coming and going there all the time. We know there is ongoing and significant anti-social behaviour there. Locals have reported shouting, fighting and drinking and that is no environment for a small child”.
“The spectre of a child leaving this privately operated halfway house every morning to go to school fills me with anger and this is the sad legacy of successive Fine Gael and Fiana Fail governments. We have never seen child homelessness before in Mayo. It is a disgrace in a country that is doing so well economically”.
“The untold damage that homelessness and wholly unsuitable accommodation is doing to our population is shameful. Being crammed into unsuitable places will do severe psychological damage to them and sadly will have lasting negative effects”.
Cllr Lawless attempted to raise a motion on the need for a security team to be employed at the centre in Ballinrobe, together with supports for residents, at today’s (13th November), meeting of Mayo Town Council but the meeting was disbanded following a rumpus over the motion.
Tempers frayed as Cllr Lawless repeatedly tried to raise his concerns with not a single elected councillor willing to second his motion.
He says
“I am absolutely shocked and dismayed that an issue as serious as this was not allowed to be discussed. It is incredible. Somebody trying to speak up for vulnerable people, especially children is shouted down. I wanted to know if a full-time security team could be employed there to safeguard all residents and in light of the given the huge concerns of locals. I equally wanted to know if there could be mental health and rehabilitation supports put in place for the residents and I wanted to know what the living arrangements are like for the people who live there. It is important that their human rights and dignity are respected.
“It is truly astounding that members of Mayo County Council didn’t recognise this issue as serious and important enough for discussion. Instead, they treated the motion with disrespect and derision. It is a disgrace, and to say I am disappointment and stunned with the response from my fellow councillors”.
“It’s a bad day when we can’t even talk about a child living in a halfway house ,together with the need for proper services for the adults who live there”.
