Friday, January 21, 2011

Killarney Mayor to complain over removal of religious statue

The Mayor of Killarney is to appeal to An Bord Planeála about the removal of a religious statue from Killarney Community Hospital last year.  

Last March the HSE claimed that it took down a Sacred Heart statue at the hospital for health and safety reasons, saying it posed a threat due to deterioration and weathering. 

At the time, the decision was criticised by local councillors and by local Killarney curate Fr Kevin McNamara who claimed he felt “genuine sadness” at its removal.  

Speaking this week town Mayor Cllr Donal O'Grady claimed that he does not accept that the statue was removed from above the front door of the hospital for health and safety reasons. 

He says that the statue's removal showed, “a gross lack of respect for the people of Killarney.” 

He told this week's council meeting that he was, “at a loss to know why the HSE had not consulted with Killarney town council before removing the statue as they were duty bound to do so.” 

The Town clerk told the meeting that there was nothing to show that the statue was an integral part of the building and therefore its removal constituted exempted development that did not require planning permission. 

The 70-year-old statue has since been relocated to ground level in the hospital.  

At the time, and as well as citing health and safety concerns, the HSE claimed that its removal was in line with its policy to accommodate and show respect to all religious beliefs and traditions. 

SIC: CIN/IE