The owner of a Dungloe hotel has said the business will no longer accept vouchers from the local authority to accommodate homeless people. PJ Boyle, co-owner of a number of businesses in the West Donegal town, issued a statement last night. It follows a protest by more than 400 people in the town earlier this week over the arrival of people into the town who were staying at Mr Boyle’s Wild Atlantic Hostel and the River House Bed & Breakfast.
Tensions were high after at least one man was arrested following a public order incident at the local post office. It later transpired that some of these people had been before the court and were on remand. Locals threatened to boycott Mr Boyle’s establishments as a result of the incidents.
In his statement, Mr Boyle outlined the application process for people seeking accommodation and how management were not “privy to their social standing, personal data, including criminal record nor any medical history.” He concluded his statement by saying that the last voucher on the accommodation scheme ended on Thursday last, the 19th of December. The following is Mr Boyle’s statement in full: “Over the last couple of years we have engaged with local authorities in Donegal to house people identified as social housing applicants availing of Homeless vouchers and awaiting permanent housing.
These individuals were residing with us on a bed and breakfast basis. “My understanding is the applicants arrive at our premises after a phone call .
