Abbeyleix Hospital Committee rocked by boycott call
Abbeyleix Hospital Committee rocked by boycott call
In the beginning there was unity and a corresponding sense of solidarity. Now that has been replaced by division, point-scoring and rancour in the immediate aftermath of a quite unprecedented fortnight for this committee.
The Abbeyleix Hospital Action Committee had galvanised the people of Laois, especially south Laois, in their collective fight to retain Abbeyleix Hospital and all its services.
Almost four years on, and despite there being no final decision on the hospital, there will be no candidate on a ‘Save Abbeyleix Hospital’ ticket in the forthcoming election. Worse still the last ten days has seen unprecedented scenes that call into question the very future of the committee, and by extension, the hospital in Abbeyleix.
The committee’s PRO Gary O’Keefe last week issued a call, via local media outlets, for local voters in the forthcoming election to boycott all candidates standing for the coalition parties; Fine Gael and Labour. This call was issued purportedly to highlight the committee’s frustration over the lack of an official decision in regard to the hospital’s future. Mr. O’Keefe underlined, indeed stressed, the apolitical nature of the committee and how this had led to its decision not to run its own candidate. Unfortunately a coach and horses has now been driven through the committee’s ‘apolitical’ nature with this unprecedented clarion call by Mrs O’ Keeffe to local voters.
Naturally the Fine Gael and Labour members of the Action Committee are incensed with the recent turn of events. Abbeyleix native and Fine Gael candidate Jim Ring’s response was withering: “For Gary O’Keefe to call on the people of Abbeyleix to boycott me is both shocking and extremely offensive and requires an explanation… It is an insult to the intelligence of the electorate in Abbeyleix and surrounding areas, who certainly don’t need anybody to advise them how to vote…” Going on to restate his total support for Abbeyleix Hospital Ring dubbed this boycott as a “political stunt” for the benefit of another unnamed candidate.
The Labour Party’s John Whelan was equally forthright in his letter to Brian Maher; Chairperson of the Action Committee. While accepting that the lack of an official commitment to the hospital was disappointing , indeed infuriating, the Senator went on to declare: “I cannot for the world of me, understand at all as to why the Action Committee have at this time chosen to unfairly and unnecessarily target those public representatives who have supported them every inch of the way. …This bizarre logic does little or nothing to serve the needs of the people… or even assist a long term commitment to Abbeyleix Hospital.”
The saga reflects badly on the often grubby nature of local politics. Worse – it only serves to heighten the electorate’s cynicism while ultimately undermining the campaign to retain the nursing home and community services at Abbeyleix Hospital.
It’s incumbent on all committee members to remember the two huge protests that swelled through the streets of Abbeyleix at the start of this popular campaign. None of those 5,000 men, women and children was marching to see one local politician score points at the expense of others. No, they marched for their grandparents, aunts and uncles and in the hope that they all would continue to enjoy the services at Abbeyleix Hospital. Like previous generations before them.
Sadly there are some who have obviously lost sight of this in the scramble for votes. Indeed the committee’s public meeting last week attracted a paltry 80 souls. Some of those were moved to walk out in protest at the political machinations of a certain faction on the committee. Sean Fleming TD was present at the meeting but his silence throughout ‘spoke volumes’ in the opinion of one witness. In contrast Brian Stanley TD was clear that what was done to Jim Ring, Noel Touhy and the other coalition candidates was unfair.
Memories of those heady days of thousands of neighbours marching in common cause are receding quickly.
Cover photo courtesy of thejournal.ie