The Saving Necarne Ad Hoc Group is holding a public protest at Enniskillen Townhall tonight (Wednesday) at 6.30pm. The Fermanagh and Omagh District Council are holding a meeting at 7pm, and the protest group intends to be outside while the meeting is ongoing and to hand in a statement in regards to the Irvinestown Estate. 

At last week’s Council meeting, Chief Executive of the FODC Brendan Hegarty, told councillors that attending the Group’s public meeting last Thursday night would be a “conflict of interest” due to the ongoing lease process. FODC Chairman Cllr Mary Garrity sent a letter to the Group addressing the issue of Necarne.

A spokesman for Saving Necarne Ad Hoc Group, who are against the estate being leased to a private investor, told the Herald:

“At our public meeting last Thursday, majority of people were shocked that Chairman of the council, Mary Garrity had said that the council would engage with the Group after the process, so we have decided that because the councillors would not come to us, we would go to them. So we have decided to be outside the meeting, and try and talk to councillors while they are going in, and to make sure we are heard.”

“It is important to look at the council’s code of conduct, which protects the democratic process. It is their job to listen, and their duty to represent the public and there is nothing stopping them from doing that. We are not part of the process, as we are not tendering. So in order for the council to make informed decisions, they must listen to the people,” he added.