Mental hospital ‘should remain in public hands’

ONE of the country’s largest mental hospitals should remain in public ownership, a town council has said.

St Finan’s Hospital in Killarney, Co Kerry, is due to close in 2014. The council has urged the HSE to ensure that the sprawling building and 30 attached acres continue to have a public function.

“It would be deeply disappointing if this very fine building went in private ownership,” said Cllr Michael Gleeson, who asked if officials had had any recent meetings with the HSE on the issue.