HUNDREDS OF PROTESTERS OCCUPIED THE FORMER EMERGENCY UNIT AT ROSCOMMON COUNTY HOSPITAL LAST NIGHT JUST MINUTES BEFORE IT WAS DUE TO SHUT ITS DOORS. THEY STAGED A SIT-IN AND PREVENTED THE DOORS FROM CLOSING IN A “SYMBOLIC GESTURE” TO MARK THE FIRST NIGHT THAT EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE HOSPITAL.

JOHN MCDERMOTT, CHAIRMAN OF THE ROSCOMMON HOSPITAL ACTION COMMITTEE WAS ONE OF ABOUT 30 PROTESTERS WHO STAYED  IN THE HOSPITAL UNTIL 8AM THIS MORNING. HE TOLD MIDWEST NEWS THEY WERE THERE TO MAKE A POINT AND TO LET POLITICIANS AND THE HSE KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT ACCEPTING THE CLOSURE OF THE A AND E DEPARTMENT. HE VOWED THE PROTEST WILL CONTINUE. THE NEXT PROTEST ACTION IS SCHEDULED FOR BOYLE ON SATURDAY EVENING NEXT AT 5.30.