'Why won't they leave this life-saving service intact': Families refuse to give up the Owenacurra fight

It is now a year since the residents of the East Cork centre were told they would be moved on and there is no resolution in sight

'Improve Us - Don't Move Us'; 'Keep services local' messages from residents of Owenacurra, Midleton, Co Cork as family members and residents brought a letter to the constituency office of Taoiseach Micheal Martin on Evergreen Road, Turner's Cross. L-R: Mary Cahill and Kieran Roche, Mary Hurley, Michael and Maureen O'Sullivan. Picture: Larry Cummins.

Families protesting the closure of the Owenacurra centre in East Cork say the human rights of residents are being “violated” and they still don't know where they will end up, a year into their battle to remain at the centre.

Residents were first informed last June that the centre was going to be closed by October 2021 due to building issues, but that date was pushed back as the HSE couldn’t find suitable accommodation for the 19 residents.