Legal action may close direct provision centre
DEFENCE solicitor Padraig O’Connell has confirmed that an injunction will be sought for the closure of the direct provision centre in Cahersiveen, which has been mired in controversy, following the outbreak of COVID-19 at the centre.
It is now believed that there have been up to 26 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the centre, and there has been more than a month-long campaign to close the centre by both the local community and the asylum seekers living at the centre. Those diagnosed have been moved to self-isolation units.
The Department of Justice has now confirmed that there are 69 asylum seekers living there, including nine children, in the 56-bedroom hotel. The Department of Justice said, together with the HSE, they have put in place a range of measures in all of the Department’s Accommodation Centres to address cases of COVID-19 should they arise.
They added that, in all matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic, public health advice from the HSE and the National Public Health Emergency Team is followed.
The Department said measures are in place to prevent the spread of the virus including staggered meal times and laundry use. They have re-iterated that they have no plans to close the centre.
Last week the HSE sent a letter outlining to residents that a further 14-day quarantine is being put in place as they claimed some residents were not adhering to guidelines. Human Rights campaigners have hit out at the letter and have also called for the centre to be closed.
The pleas for closure have fallen on deaf ears and have preceded legal action being taken.
Killarney-based solicitor Padraig O’Connell said he has been instructed to seek an injunction to close the hotel. However, he said no date has been set for this hearing but his firm are now in the process of preparing a case for the injunction.
This comes as the ongoing controversy was raised at the Dáil Covid-19 committee this week.
A complaint has also been made to the Ombudsman Peter Tyndell by Cllr Norma Moriarty, Deputy Mayor and Mayor of Kerry, Cllr Niall Kelleher.
They have raised concerns about the mis-management of the situation and the safety of the residents in the centre and the community.
Freedom of Information requests have also been sought by Cllr Moriarty on the transfer of asylum seekers to the centre. She has also sought clarity via parliamentary questions through the Fianna Fáil party. Some of these were sought in April, but there has been no response to date, almost a month later.