Breaffy Community Council raises concern over planned public meeting

But organisers insist it is in response to the lack of public consultation

Breaffy Community Council has issued a statement disassociating itself from a public meeting scheduled to take place at a Castlebar hotel later this week.

Residents of Breaffy have been invited to the meeting at the Ivy Hotel Hotel at 7 p.m. on Friday to discuss the opening of an international protection centre in the former Covid-19 vaccination centre on the grounds of Breaffy House Resort.

A statement issued to Midwest News by the chairman of Breaffy Community Council, Martin Reddington, said the council has been working tirelessly over the last few weeks with Mayo County Council, Breaffy House, local elected representatives, as well as refugees and asylum seekers, to bring clarity to the present situation.

“We recognise that there is confusion in the community and hope to be in a position to bring clarity to this over the coming days.”

The statement expressed concern that the public meeting planned for Friday evening "may be infiltrated by people who do not reside in the Breaffy area and who may have ulterior motives that are not helpful at this time."

He added the community council only wishes the best for all the people involved - as well as to avoid the heightening of tensions in the community at large.

Also speaking on Midwest Radio, one of the organisers of the pubic meeting, Stephen Kerr, explained the reason the Friday's meeting is taking place.

He outlined: “There has been no public consultation process and no attempt to inform the community about what’s happening.

"We believe that all Breaffy residents should be given an opportunity to have their voices heard."