WATCH: Borrisokane rallies to stop eviction of asylum families

Watch as hundreds marched in Borrisokane on Wednesday evening in support of a campaign to reverse a decision to move asylum families living in the town since 2019 to new accommodation in Birr in neighbouring Offaly.

Tipperary Labour TD, Alan Kelly, addressed the crowd following members of the Borrisokane Liaison Committee who organised the event.

Several members of Tipperary County Council also supported the march and the crowd was addressed by local Independent Councilklor, Joe Hannigan.

The protest was mounted over the decision by the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) to move up to 19 families - who have asylum status and who have lived there for over five years - to accomodation in Birr.

Pictured above is the rally as it proceeded through the town centre on Wednesday evening.

It was anticipated that the eviction process would start today (Thursday) but at the eleventh hour the Department issued a statement announcing it had been postponed. 

The families are all living in the Riverside Accommodation Centre since 2019 and they have integrated into the community, with the support of a local liaison committee. They include 30 children who are all going to the local schools and members of local sports teams.

However the families are no longer entitled to stay in the centre which is needed for new applicants and are being moved onto emergency accommodation in Birr.

Margaret Donnelly, leader of the group who organised the protest march, said the decision to move the families from Borrisokane breaches a written agreement made in 2019 - one of the conditions of which was that applicants could be allowed to stay in their accommodation in the long-term once they had been successfully given asylum and integrated into life in Borrisokane.

Independent Tipperary County Councillor, Joe Hannigan, addresses the large crowd outside the Riverside Apartments in Borrisokane. Photos: D. Keegan