Sir, – In the aftermath of Willie Penrose’s resignation due to the recent Cabinet decision to close Columb Barracks in Mullingar, most commentators are saying good riddance – if he won’t toe the Government line he is no good to the country. What if he is right and the Government is wrong?
Mr Penrose’s main issue with this is that there is no financial gain in closing Columb Barracks. The barracks is unlikely to be sold; it is a listed building and will therefore have to be maintained. Security will have to be put in place to stop the place being vandalised like its sister artillery barracks in Kildare town. To house troops in Athlone, accommodation will have to be built.
If politicians do not stand up and shout stop in the face of bad decisions at government, then who will? This is not about looking after the locals; this is about proper decision making. Willie Penrose is a man of principle, how often can we say that about our politicians? – Yours, etc,