People of Monaghan lead the way

I CONGRATULATE the 7,000-plus demonstrators who spoiled the party/propaganda photo shoot for the Fianna Fáil party hacks at the recent opening of the Monaghan bypass in protest against the planned closure of Monaghan General Hospital.

Fair play to the people of Monaghan; they have mounted a vigorous and determined campaign over the past few years to preserve the hospital as a fully functional general hospital with a 24-hour A&E service.

The situation in Monaghan is symptomatic of the crisis in the health service nationwide.