A business owner in Ballinrobe, whose hotel has been central to recent controversy on emergency accommodation, has hit out against criticism of his facility.
Ray Prendergast, owner of the Railway Inn, has made allegations of ‘misinformation, untruths and falsehoods’ from councillors, TDs and the media, regarding the running of his hotel.
Local representatives have, in recent weeks, expressed their concern over the use of the hotel as emergency accommodation following a number of reports of antisocial behaviour close to the building.
It is understood that Mayo County Council had been using the property to accommodate homeless people, but has since ceased dealing with the property owner.
It was later reported that, in a bizarre twist, the hotel entered an agreement with Roscommon County Council to use the property for the same purpose.
However, the owner of the 25 bedroom hotel has issued a statement denying the claims.
As stated in this morning’s The Mayo News, Mr. Prendergast said that ‘no contract, past or present, exists between my business and any County Council’, continuing to say that it will ‘continue to offer accommodation on a short term and long term basis’ to the public.
The residents who had been housed at the Railyway Inn during the contract with Mayo County Council, were moved on to other locations.
