Controversial Killarney hospital statue ‘must stay’

THE HSE South has been refused planning permission to remove a large Christian statue from above the main entrance of the Killarney Community Hospital, which it took down and then replaced at ground level.

The sudden removal of the statue in March 2010 without consultation with the community caused uproar. The Bishop of Kerry publicly questioned the health and safety reasons put forward by the hospital’s health managers. Other religious groups also joined in the criticism and at one stage there was a threat of a march on the hospital.

The Killarney Soroptimists women’s group gathered names and called on the hospital to replace the statue. There was an ongoing confrontation between the nine-member town council and the HSE on the matter.