Human rights ‘ignored’ by councillors

Ruane claims human rights ‘ignored’ by councillors


Rowan Gallagher

CASTLEBAR Town Councillors were accused of ‘ignoring the basic human rights of 10 per cent of the population of the country’ by having an inaccessible venue for monthly meetings.
There was outrage among Castlebar councillors after Sinn Fein’s Thérèse Ruane accused her fellow councillors of ignoring the rights of people with a physical disability by not taking steps to make monthly meetings accessible to them.
Marsh House in Castlebar has been the home of the Town Council for a the last number of years and on several occasions over the years other venues have been suggested.
Marsh House is a listed building and for this reason cannot be made wheelchair accessible.
“It’s not a question of accommodating people, it is a question of basic human rights. We are potentially excluding one tenth of the people we represent. It is a question of choice and the people of this town with physical disabilities don’t have the choice to attend these meeting,” Cllr Ruane said.
After her protests fell on deaf ears Cllr Ruane submitted that ‘it is a shocking inditement of this Town Council’.
Over the years a number of new premises have been suggested for use by the council but all have failed to materilise.
The Castlebar Tennis Club  site was bought first, followed by the old Castlebar Cinema - neither project reached a conclusion and now the old tennis club is left idle. Speculation has now began to circulate that the Imperial Hotel in Castlebar will be the new home of the Council.
Councillor Michael Kilcoyne told The Mayo News that he felt it was a bad idea to find a new premises now.
“Not only do the 10 per cent not come but do you see any of the other 90 per cent here to visit us? We have always tried to accommodate people when they have said that they wished to attend. What is the point in getting a new building when the Town Council probably wont be there in a few years,” added Cllr Kilcoyne.
Town Manager Seamus Granahan refused to comment on the speculation about the Imperial Hotel being bought as a replacement of Marsh House, stating that it would be inappropriate to discuss it at last week’s December monthly meeting of the council.
Cllr Noreen Heston demanded that Cllr Ruane withdraw her accusation against the council but Cllr Ruane refused. Cllr Harry Barrett was the only councillor to support Cllr Ruane’s motion.