Athlone's Legal Challenge IPAS

We, the five Athlone based County Councillors: Mayor Frankie Keena, John Dolan, Paul Hogan, Kevin Boxer Moran and Aengus O'Rourke are challenging the legality of the proposed development of a tented IPAS centre at Lissywollen, Athlone by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth, on environmental grounds.

We have been working hard as a group in recent weeks to assemble an experienced legal team and to build a strong case. We are now satisfied that we have an excellent legal team in place to challenge this decision and a very strong case.

However, legal action such as this is expensive. We are therefore turning to the people of Athlone and the local business community to help us fund this legal case. Our objective is very clear, we want to immediately and permanently stop this development.

All money raised will be used exclusively to pay for the legal fees associated with this case including any professional environmental reports necessary to meet our objective. All donations, large or small will be very much appreciated.

In the event that our fundraising efforts are oversubscribed we will distribute the excess money in equal amounts to the following local charities: Pieta House, South Westmeath Hospice, Esker House Women's Refuge, Athlone Meals on Wheels, Athlone St Vincent de Paul, Athlone Irish Wheelchair Association. We have appointed a three person voluntary team from the local business community to manage this Go Fund Me account on our behalf to ensure that there is proper oversight and professional management of all monies collected.

Cllrs involved:

Paul Hogan, Aengus O'Rourke, Frankie Keena, John Dolan, Kevin Boxer Moran.