Dromahair divided as families of refugees due to arrive

FOLLOWING a decision in the High Court that the proposed use of the former Abbey Manor Hotel in Dromahair village to house 155 international protection applicants was not unlawful, there has been a call to rebuild trust which a local TD says has been broken.

There is a very clear divide in the area on the issue with tension heightened by rumours circulating on social media suggesting refugees were being transported to the hotel on Tuesday.

On Tuesday night there was a gathering outside the hotel, the numbers gathering itself contested by those in favour of people being housed there and those who oppose such a move.

However, local TD Martin Kenny said he received official confirmation that families would be housed in the former hotel in coming days. He said trust had been broken and now needs to be rebuilt as there is great unease locally.

In the High Court, Leitrim County Council’s action to prevent the former hotel from being used to house 155 applicants for international protection failed when it was rejected by Mr Justice Richard Humphreys.

He found that the proposed use of the former hotel which has recently been extensively refurbished was not unlawful and can go ahead.

Justice Humphreys found that the owner Dromaprop Limited was entitled to avail of a planning exemption to change the use of the hotel to accommodate “protected persons” under 12-month contract with the Department of Integration.

He refused the council’s request for an order prohibiting the temporary housing of asylum seekers at the premises. He found in Dromaprop’s favour in its separate case taken over the council’s decision rejecting its building compliance certificate for works to convert the hotel for use as asylum seeker accommodation.

The council, in January 2024, declared Dromaprop’s certificate invalid and refused to enter it onto its official register.

Deputy Martin Kenny reacting to the impasse yesterday said trust has been broken and that every effort must be made to rebuild that.

He said he had been contacted by a representative of IPAS which represents international protection applicants, who confirmed that following the High Court decision they planned to move some people into the former hotel.

Those who would be moved would all be families, he was told. He said he was informed that between 30 to 40 people would be coming and there was “no intention” to bring any single males to the former hotel.