Removal of statue 'a safety measure'

THE HSE has moved to assure public representatives and the public at large that there was “no hidden agenda” behind its decision to remove a statue of the Sacred Heart from over the front door of Killarney Community Hospital in Co Kerry.

HSE South Regional director of operations Pat Healy told councillors at this month’s meeting of the HSE South Regional Health Forum that the statue had been removed from over the door of the hospital on health and safety grounds.

“There is no hidden agenda or policy on our part to take religious artefacts out of the hospital,” said Mr Healy, pointing out that only last Christmas, the HSE had spent money on cribs and other religious artefacts for the hospital.

He rejected suggestions that the HSE South’s decision to relocate the statue on the grounds of the hospital was in response to criticism from clergy and lay people alike over its removal from over the door of the hospital.

It had always been the HSE’s intention to find a suitable location for the statue on the hospital grounds after a health and safety audit deemed it unsafe to allow it remain over the door, said Mr Healy, adding that the focus of the health and safety audit was much broader than just religious artefacts.

Mr Healy was responding to criticism from Independent Kerry county councillor Michael Healy Rae who said the removal of the statue and other religious paintings from the hospital were part of a conspiracy against the church.