18,000 COPIES WEEKLY Award for Colaiste Lú student Page 11
Spring clean season begins Page 14
Action from Dundalk 10k Pages 8, 10 & 12
Battle is now on to save Women’s Aid
Wednesday, 9th April, 2014. Vol. 7, Issue 15 • 63 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth. Tel: 042 9320888. Fax: 042 9329676. Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com
By Niamh Kirk
A HUGE battle is underway in an attempt to save Dundalk Women’s Aid from closure after it was announced last week that the vital service will cease due to a cut in Government funds. The centre has seen its funding cut by 75 per cent in the past two years which means that they now have only been offered €20,000 in funding which the management state makes it impossible to sustain the service. Although the women’s refuge announced last week that it would close on June 27 unless a sustainable solution to the funding cuts can be found, there remains a strong hope that the service
can be maintained. There has been a massive outcry and a strong level of public support to see the service continue which has offered encouragement to those invovled in the centre, who realise that something substantial needs to come from that support. A spokesperson said that they are overwhelmed with the support and fundraising efforts but that what is required is a commitment from the funding body to ensure that there is suitable, sustainable provision for the victims of domestic violence in the north east. The announcement of the closure provoked a huge reaction with more than 3,500 people joining a Facebook group fight to save
Family renew bid to have David home
David Garvey is continuing his battle to return home recent request was again By Niamh Kirk rejected on financial grounds. Dundalk man David Garvey David’s family are calling on who has been appealing to the community to help them the HSE to allow him to leave by raising money and raising hospital has launched a new the issue with local TDs and campaign after his most councillors as well as having
launched campaign pages on social networks. David has locked-in-syndrome; he has all his brain function, he is awake and Continued on Page 13