Ballinrobe hotel owner hits back at ‘misinformation, untruths and falsehoods’

A business owner has attacked what he alleges is ‘misinformation, untruths and falsehoods’ from councillors, TDs, the media and ‘misinformed local business interests’ regarding his hotel in Ballinrobe.

In recent weeks, local representatives expressed anger over the use of the Railway Inn as homeless accommodation following several disturbances near the premises.

Mayo County Council, who had been using the facility for emergency accommodation for homeless people, has ended its dealings with the property owner. The residents were moved on to other locations.

It was then reported that Roscommon County Council were to use the Railway Inn shortly after Mayo County Council ceased its association with the property.

The owner of the 25-bedroom hotel, Ray Prendergast, has since denied having any contract with any local authority. Roscommon County Council did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.

In a statement issued yesterday (Monday), March 3, Mr Prendergast said that ‘no contract, past or present, exists between my business and any County Council’ and that it will ‘continue to offer accommodation on a short term and long term basis’ to the public.

The statement said that the property also remains available for local organisations and support groups to hold their meetings there if and when required.

BEO letter

In a letter seen by The Mayo News on Friday last, February 28, Ballinrobe Enterprise Organisation said recent disturbances at the hotel had left local residents living ‘in fear’. According to the Mayo County Council website, Ballinrobe Enterprise Organisation (BEO) promotes the economic development of the Ballinrobe area in Co Mayo, by the development and provision of suitable workspace, the provision of advice, the promotion and development of small enterprises, agriculture and forestry and the support of employment-creating project. It has 150 members.

In the letter, which was sent to every Dáil TD and to several local groups through Ballinrobe Community Development Council, the organisation accused Mr Prendergast of not implementing ‘any effective actions’ to reduce disturbances at the hotel.

“Gardaí, already overstretched, are frequently called to the property. Recent incidents include residents under the influence causing disturbances, traffic chaos, and repeated incidents for theft, vandalism and violent behaviour,” the letter said.

The BEO said local businesses have had to hire security due to the resulting spike in anti-social behaviour.

In its letter, the organisation called for a constant security presence at the hotel and appropriate living standards ‘for the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable residents and the broader community’.

“Failure to address these concerns will further endanger both the residents of the Railway/Lakeland Hotel, which at times include children, and the local community. The level of fear and anger is very palpable in the area, there is a feeling that the Government has abandoned its duty of care to the vulnerable residents it places in the Railway and the local residents that have to deal with the fallout,” it said.

In a joint statement issued on February 24, local councillors Damien Ryan and Cllr Burke encouraged people to ‘take their anger out’ on the property owner, whom they accused of ‘having no regard for people in our town’.

‘Disheartening’

IN his statement, Mr Prendergast said it was ‘so disappointing and disheartening to witness Council officials, elected representatives and a small number of local business individuals, pursuing short-term media attention and exposure through dramatic headlines and misleading information to serve unknown agendas, whilst vulnerable local residents are used as pawns’.

The Ballyglass native explained that the Railway Inn had been accommodating referrals from Mayo County Council before he acquired the property.

Mr Prendergast said that the facility ‘operates on a day-to-day basis, available to the general public, local workers, Mayo Council Council and other County Councils as required’.

He also refuted claims made about the upkeep of the property, insisting that the building has a valid Fire Certificate. He said that Mayo County Council officials ‘inspected the property last year and commended both the quality of the premises and the service provided and are regularly in and out of the premises on an ongoing basis’.

Mr Prendergast said the hotel implemented as requested additional security measures last summer ‘following meetings between councillors and Mayo County Council officials and a select minority of local business individuals’.

“Despite my compliance, I have never been invited to participate in any meeting pertaining to my premises or its operation,” he said.

“Based on the ongoing campaign of misinformation, Mayo County Council were forced to displace vulnerable local residents from Ballinrobe to other Mayo towns, including Knock, Foxford and Charlestown. Furthermore, other residents were relocated outside the county – an ironic outcome given the purported intentions behind these actions.”

‘Troubling’

Mr Prendergast also refuted Ballinrobe Enterprise Organisation’s suggestion that there had been ‘a marked increase in anti-social behaviour linked to some residents’ since Mr Prendergast acquired the hotel.

He has requested a meeting with Ballinrobe Enterprise Organisation and the Ballinrobe Community Development Council to discuss the matter further.

Mr Prendergast said he had the option to let the property to people seeking International Protection ‘but decided to continue with the provision of service for the local homeless, the very individuals who are suffering now with no certainty based on a protracted period of misinformation, untruths and falsehood by various interests’.

Ballinrobe is currently accommodating International Protection Applicants in JJ Gannon’s Hotel, where 50 people took up residence following public demonstrations last January. Other properties in the town are understood to be accommodating people for the same purpose.

“In relation to linking me as responsible for the increase in anti-social behaviour and crime over the last 18 months, I would suggest that all refer to the latest crime figures released today by the CSO. Furthermore … we can only control what happens within and around our property,” said Mr Prendergast.

He said that the local authority vets all residents but that hotel management is ‘not informed of any potential issues related to the individual’.

“It is deeply troubling to see the misrepresentation of our business and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals for political, local vested business interest or media gain,” added Mr Prendergast.

“We remain committed to providing a high-quality service to all guests and will continue to uphold the standards of care and compliance that define our business.

“We continue and will continue to offer accommodation on a short-term and long-term basis to members of the public, some of whom work in the town but cannot afford to avail of accommodation because of the housing crisis.”