Leas Cross nursing home to close next month

The owner if the Leas Cross nursing home in Swords, Co Dublin has announced plans to close the facility at the start of next month.

John Aherne blamed the Health Service Executive for the closure, saying its actions had made it impossible for the home to continue operating.

The HSE took over Leas Cross earlier this year after a television documentary showed poorly trained staff mistreating residents.

Mr Aherne said today that the home had attempted to implement new structures and procedures in conjunction with the HSE.

However, he said the Executive "effectively decided to close Leas Cross" by removing public patients from the home, by advising private residents to leave and by preventing future admissions.