Gilmore made Roscommon A&E pledge

THE bitter political row over cutbacks at smaller hospitals widened last night as it emerged Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore also made broken election pledges to protect Roscommon services.

As Fine Gael councillors quit the party in protest at Enda Kenny’s failure to live up to similar promises and demanded the Taoiseach return to the midlands to make a public apology, Mr Gilmore became embroiled in the controversy.

The Tánaiste was dragged into the squall after it was revealed he told local radio in the run-up to the election: “The Labour Party policy will be to retain Roscommon Hospital and to retain all of the services.