Four Athlone councillors have hailed a High Court ruling over the Lissywollen IPAS centre as "a victory for the people of Athlone".
The court overturned the Government's Section 181 order, which had allowed the controversial temporary accommodation centre for 1,000 refugees to be established.
A four-month stay was placed on the order, giving the Government until 7th March 2026 to regularise the planning status of the site.
However, local councillors Paul Hogan, Aengus O’Rourke, Frankie Keena, and John Dolan say they don’t believe the Government will be able to pass the complex legislation needed within that timeframe.
All tents and above-ground structures have been removed from the site and will not be replaced.
They hope the site can now be redeveloped for leisure and sporting facilities to benefit the local community.
In a statement, they said: "This is not just a win for us as councillors or as citizens - it is a victory for the people of Athlone, for due process, and for the fundamental principle that no Minister and no Government is above the law.
From the very start, we stood with our community, insisting that planning laws exist to protect everyone - residents, service providers, and future generations. The Government arrogantly tried to sidestep those laws, ignored local voices, and denied local representatives any meaningful engagement.
This High Court decision sends a clear and powerful message to the Government: never again ignore the people, and never again dismiss locally elected representatives.
We believe this is a pivotal moment in the national conversation about immigration in Ireland. This case, taken by four councillors from across the political spectrum, sends a loud shot across the Government's bow. Ireland needs a coherent, transparent, and consultative approach to immigration - one that engages with communities rather than dictating to them and ignoring them."
