Commercial losses behind effort to keep home open, says judge

THERE was an element of commercial loss consideration behind the move by the Rostrevor Nursing Home to restrain the Health Service Executive (HSE) from dispersing its residents among other care units, a judge said yesterday.

Mr Justice Matthew Deery, in refusing to interfere with a District Court order effectively closing down the home, said it was now being run by the HSE which had been given interim powers to make decisions concerning the welfare of residents.

The Circuit Court President said that while certain residents may have developed an attachment with the Rostrevor establishment the HSE had, in any case, statutory powers under the Health Act to make administrative decisions including dispersal of patients.