Over €20,000 has been raised as part of a fundraiser to support legal action against a refugee accommodation project in Athlone. Five councillors in Athlone announced yesterday that they are taking the legal action against the development of the tented refugee accommodation at Lissywollen. Cllrs Frankie Keena, Aengus O'Rourke, John Dolan, Paul Hogan and Kevin 'Boxer' Moran released a joint statement yesterday stating their case is based on environmental grounds.
The Department of Integration wants to accommodate up 1,000 refugees in Lissywollen - initially in tents and later in modular units. In their statement, they say no consultation has been carried out with the local community or with local public representatives, and they are now seeking a Judicial Review. Mayor of Athlone, Frankie Keena, says he is surprised with the initial success of the Go Fund Me appeal:
