St Mary of the Angels Beaufort

Press and NEWS Coverage

*** Note on broken links for older Radio Kerry News: Radio Kerry recently updated their website and for space and performance reasons did not carry over older news updates. It is envisaged that there will be an archive available in the near future and the broken links will be updated accordingly. - June 2021 ***

• Kerry's Eye: Deal on service for 300 with additional needs, 7th March 2024
• Government of Ireland: Department welcome decision by St John of God Community Services to continue providing publicly funded services, 28th February 2024
• TheJournal: St John of God reaches an agreement with the HSE over provision of services, 28th February 2024
• Irish Independent: Anne Rabbitte says funding crisis at St John of God Community Services causing ‘anxiety’ for families as HSE fails to reach agreement, 19th February 2024 
• Radio Kerry News: Kerry association supports call for St John of God and HSE to return to talks, 19th February 2024
• Sunday Independent: Minister 'incredibly disappointed' at transfer of John of God services, 18th February 2024
• RTÉ News: 'Concern and alarm' over transfer of SJOG services to HSE, 17th February 2024
• RTÉ News: St John of God has 'enough money' for services - HSE CEO, 16th February 2024
• Irish Independent: HSE says it is ‘shocked’ over transfer of St John of God Community Services for 8,000 people, 16th February 2024
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• Radio Kerry News: HIQA inspection finds Kerry residential care service mostly compliant, 23rd November 2023
• The Kerryman: Strategic plan for St Mary of the Angels facility, 25th October 2023
• Radio Kerry News: Strategic plan being developed for St Mary of the Angels, 24th October 2023
• Radio Kerry News: Minister pledges support for St Mary of the Angels, 23rd October 2023
• Killarney Today.com: Kerry TD insists: We can’t let the place close down, 18th October 2023
• Kerry's Eye: Positive review for Beaufort service, 28th September 2023
• Killarney Advertiser: St Mary of the Angels faces underhanded closure threat, 18th August 2023
• Killarney Today.com: Save St Mary of the Angels before it’s too late, 17th August 2023
• Kerry's Eye: Life on the move in St Mary of the Angels, 16th February 2023
• Killarney Advertiser: New buses driving community living for St Mary of the Angels residents, 13th February 2023
• TraleeToday.ie: New Buses At St Mary Of The Angels, 13th February 2023
• Killarney Outlook: St. Mary of the Angels launch their 2023 calendar, 11th November 2022
• Kerry's Eye: 'We can't cope any more', 10th November 2022
• Killarney Today.com: ‘It will be sinful not to allow St Mary’s continue’, 12th June 2022
• The Kerryman: Parents and relatives welcome HIQA report, 23rd February 2022
• Killarney Advertiser: HIQA report praises Beaufort care facility, 22nd February 2022
• Kerry's Eye: Glowing report for Beaufort centre, 17th February 2022
• Radio Kerry News: East Kerry disability centre receives positive HIQA report, 13th February 2022
• The Kerryman: Call for booster shots for St Mary of the Angels following positive cases, 17th November 2021
• Kerry's Eye: U-turn relief for Mary of the Angels, 12th August 2021
• The Kerryman: Relief as St John of Gods enters talks on services, 11th August 2021
• Radio Kerry News: Relief as St John of God to continue services at St Mary of the Angels, 5th August 2021
• The Kerryman: St Mary of the Angels' future hangs in the balance with plea for facility to be kept, 28th July 2021
• Kerry's Eye: Councillors rally against St Mary of the Angels closure, 22nd July 2021
• KillarneyToday.com: Emergency action launched to save Beaufort facility, 20th July 2021
• Kerry's Eye: Bubo wants to remain at Beaufort, 8th July 2021. Lynn Fitzpatrick's appearance before the Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters.
• The Kerryman: Passionate plea to save St Mary of the Angels, 7th July 2021. Lynn Fitzpatrick's appearance before the Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters.
• Irish Examiner: 'Another 20 years before all disabled people can live in community', 1st July 2021. Report on today's Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters meeting, Lynn Fitzpatrick, whose brother Bernard has lived in a residential setting for 40 years, has said there should be a choice for these individuals, including the option of institutional living. Bernard has lived a “full, meaningful life”, she said, and a blanket policy to remove these settings “has badly failed some people”. 
• The Irish Times: Government proposes initiative to address financial crisis at St John of God Community Services, 6th May 2021
• Kerry's Eye: Mary of Angels may be sold off, 6th May 2021
• The Kerryman: Foley meets with St Mary of the Angels group, 5th May 2021
• Radio Kerry News: St Mary of the Angels and Department of Health representatives discuss its future, 29th April 2021
• The Kerryman: St Mary of the Angels Beaufort facility could be sold by charity, 21st April 2021
• Radio Kerry News: Concerns for the future of St Mary of the Angels, 14th April 2021 - Interview here: https://youtu.be/SOTNPZIB-eM
• The Irish Times: St John of God community services warn Government of potential disorderly collapse, 5th April 2021
• The Irish Times: Analysis: Collapse of voluntary disability providers is major worry for HSE, 5th April 2021
• The Kerryman: Concerns over residents' spend on therapies, 31st March 2021. The referenced HIQA reports are summarised and linked on this page.
• The Irish Times: St John of God says transfer of disability, mental-health services to HSE to go ahead, 16th February 2021
• Radio Kerry News: Eight recipients of Fexco Kerry Heroes 2020 revealed, 23rd December 2020 (Fr. Derek and St Mary of the Angels staff are one of the recipients)
• the journal.ie: 'It can only get worse': Anger over lack of progress in transfer of services from St John of Gods to HSE, 17th December 2020
• The Kerryman: PPE breach part of review into St Mary of the Angels outbreak, 25th November 2020
• The Kerryman: Covid-19 outbreak at St Mary of the Angels, 18th November 2020
• Kerry's Eye: Concerns as John of God ends service, 8th October 2020
• The Kerryman: Who will provide necessary services for our loved ones?, 7th October 2020
• The Kerryman: We're left with no choice but to end our disability services, 7th October 2020
• TheJournal.ie: 'People are devastated': St John of God to hand over services to HSE due to 'underfunding crisis', 1st October 2020
• The Kerryman: Honda 50 lovers to take on Mid and South Kerry in St Mary of the Angels' fundraiser, 22nd July 2020
• The Irish Times: Coronavirus: Fears of ‘disaster’ in residential disability centres, 28th April 2020 (with section about St Mary of the Angels)
• Kerry's Eye: Two residents infected at St Mary of the Angels, 23rd April 2020
• The Irish Mail on Sunday: Parents' alarm at John of God threat to shut in funds row, 8th March 2020
• The Irish Times: St John of God funding crisis forces takeover talks with HSE, 6th March 2020 (St John of God is the service provider at St Mary of the Angels)
• The Kerryman: $9k boost for Beaufort facility, 26th February 2020
• Kerry's Eye: €220,000 disability cuts in Kerry, 30th January 2020
• Radio Kerry News: Budgets for Kerry disability groups to be cut by thousands of euro, 22nd January 2020
• Radio Kerry News: Kerry Heroes Awards 2019 announced, 23rd December 2019
• The Kerryman: Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle Presentation Evening, 16th October 2019
• The Kerryman: Team Geaney out in force for St Mary of the Angels, 2nd October 2019
• Killarney Today: Team Geaney plays a blinder for charity, 1st October 2019
• The Kerryman: St Mary of the Angels project gets underway, 25th September 2019
• Kerry's Eye: Clifford's a class act!, 18th July 2019
• The Kerryman: Kerry star's generous gesture ahead of Fitzgerald Stadium clash, 17th July 2019
• The Kerryman: Tea, coffee and cake to help St Mary of the Angels, 26th June 2019
• Kerry's Eye: Friends make it Ring of Terry, 20th June 2019
• Farming Independent: Construction boss goes back to his farming roots for a good cause, 11th June 2019
• Kerry's Eye: Grace sets Angels' barbecue on fire, 6th June 2019
• Kerry's Eye: 'Back from dead' to snap up €2m farm, 6th June 2019
• The Kerryman: Dan Tim buys former St Mary of the Angels farm in Beaufort for €1.9m, 5th June 2019
• Radio Kerry News: Call for religious order which sold Whitefield Farm to make donation to St Mary of the Angels, 31st May 2019
• The Kerryman: South Kerry Development Partnership Supplement, 22nd May 2019
• The Kerryman: Kerry Community Awards, Gold Award for St Mary of the Angels, 22nd May 2019
• The Kerryman: Kerry Community Awards, St Mary of the Angels Beaufort, 8th May 2019
• The Kerryman: Beaufort farm sale sparks concern for disability centre, Sale gathers criticism from families at St Mary of the Angels centre, 8th May 2019
• Farming Independent: Don't sell care home farm, Franciscan order urged, 'It belongs to the children of Kerry', 7th May 2019 (online version here)
• Radio Kerry News: St Mary of the Angels’ parents’ group urges religious order to reconsider land sale, 1st May 2019
• The Kerryman: Funding boost for St Mary of the Angels, Beaufort facility gets top prize in Aviva-run Community Awards Fund, 10th April 2019
• The Kerryman: 'A world of its own' at St Mary of the Angels, 23rd January 2019
• Kerry's Eye: Adrigole celebrates Kerry night ...and raises €3,500 for Beaufort, 25th October 2018
• The Kerryman: Charities gather to celebrate as cycle raises seven-figure sum again (St Mary of the Angels' share is close to €80,000), 26th September 2018
• The Maine Valley Post: Paudie's Tractor Run Yields €3,460 for St. Mary's, 17th September 2018
• Kerry's Eye: Golden week for St Mary of the Angels, 19th July 2018
• Irish Examiner: From a tiny seed planted 50 years ago, a great tree gives shade to many, 18th July 2018
• The Kerryman: Fifty years of care at St Mary of the Angels, 18th July 2018
• Radio Kerry Nerws: 500 people gather to celebrate 50 years of St Mary of the Angels, 17th July 2018
• Kerry's Eye: St Mary of the Angels 50th Anniversary multi-page coverage, 12th July 2018
• The Kerryman: St Mary of the Angels 50th Anniversary 12 page supplement, 11th July 2018 
• The Kerryman: HIQA reports on St Mary of the Angels, 13th June 2018
• Kerry's Eye: My home at Saint Mary of the Angels, Interview with Thomas "The Yank" Bambury, 10th May 2018
• Kerry's Eye: Standards will improve at Beaufort, 19th April 2018
• The Kerryman: Staff level concerns at St Mary of the Angels, 18th April 2018
• Radio Kerry News: 12 days of staff shortages in one month at St Mary of the Angels, Beaufort, 16th April 2018
• The Kerryman: Families step in to fund future of St Mary of Angels, 11th April 2018
• Radio Kerry News: Deputation hears ministers come and go but St Mary of the Angels will be staying, 28th March 2018
• The Kerryman: Comedy night raises thousands in aid of St Mary of the Angels, 22nd November 2017
• The Kerryman: Comedy Night for St Mary of the Angels, 15th November 2017
• Sunday Independent Life Magazine: Sisterly Love - Lynn Fitzpatrick believes her brother Bernard is happiest when he's living in a familiar community setting. 1st October 2017 [See response to HSE statement on Decongregation page.]
• thejournal.ie: Column: 'My brother Thomas is not suitable for 'community living'' - Thomas has been asked if he wants to get a new house and he has said no. Congregated settings are ideal for some people, writes Joyce Bambury. 27th August 2017
• The Kerryman: Anger as St Mary of the Angels misses out on CLAR cash, 2nd August 2017
• Irish Examiner: Finian McGrath defiant as family say video post adds insult to injury, 29th July 2017
• Irish Independent: 'My son isn't a pawn on a chessboard' - Mother of son with intellectual disabilities hits back at Minister's apology, 27th July 2017
• Kerry's Eye: Minister says sorry over hurtful remarks, 27th July 2017
• Radio Kerry News: Disability Minister apologies to Kerry mother for comments on institutions, 26th July 2017
• Irish Examiner: Parents’ heartbreaking decisions - Greatest love may be to say goodbye (opinion piece about yesterdays coverage of open letter), 26th July 2017
• Radio Kerry News: Kerry mother condemns Minister comment on some relatives ‘dumping’ people with special needs, 25th July 2017
• Irish Examiner: Mother criticises Finian McGrath ‘dumping’ comment, 25th July 2017
• Irish Examiner: Mum's open letter to Minister on closure of residential care centres, 25th July 2017
• The Irish Times: Finian McGrath pledges to ratify convention on people with disabilities - ‘Dumping’ of relatives in institutions a key matter of concern in Government strategy, 14th July 2017
• Radio Kerry News: New committee formed with aim of opening up St Mary of the Angels facility to new residents, 3rd July 2017
• The Kerryman: Volunteers and donations help paint a pretty picture, 31st May 2017
• Radio Kerry News: Calls for government to speed up funding for respite services at St Mary of the Angels Beaufort, 28th May 2017
• Irish Examiner: Community care plan causing great concern - ...the policy of moving people who may not be suitable for community-based care centres should be either stalled or abandoned..., 20th May 2017
• Irish Daily Mail: Our Brother can't care for himself. So how can he just be sent out 'into the community'? - Coverage of Saint Mary's residential center in Drumcar with reference to St Mary of the Angels, 15th April 2017
• The Kerryman: Massive reaction to Lynn's powerful piece on RTÉ's Cutting Edge - Sister of St Mary's resident generates huge slew of support in relation to her brother's plight under HSE's 'Moving On' policy, 5th April 2017
• Irish Examiner: Kerry woman moved by reaction to letter on behalf of ’handicapped’ brother, 9th February 2017
• The Kerryman: When jargon fails the vulnerable, 8th February 2017
• Kerry's Eye: St Mary of the Angels to close, 19th January 2017
• Village Magazine: Turmoil over de-institutionalisation, 19th January 2017 (note the comments under the article)
• The Kerryman: 'No one will be moved against their wishes', 18th January 2017
• Irish Examiner: No respite for family whose sons have autism, 17th January 2017
• Radio Kerry News: Minister gives guarantee no St Mary of the Angels resident to be moved without consent, 13th January 2017
• Irish Examiner: Finian McGrath rejects pleas to keep facility for disabled people open, 13th January 2017
• Radio Kerry News: Hopes that Minister will address future of St Mary of the Angels, 11th January 2017
• The Kerryman: Ill-conceived decision to move residents out of St Mary of the Angels, 21st December 2016
• The Kerryman: Minister to meet St Mary's families, 14th December 2016
• The Kerryman: 'Move will traumatise residents' nurses warn, 23rd November 2016 (not primarily about St Mary of the Angels but it is mentioned in the articles)
• Irish Examiner: Anger at care home ‘box-ticking’ after relocation of over 70 special needs adults, 18th November 2016
• Radio Kerry News: Criteria for future of St Mary’s residents discussed at meeting, 16th November 2016
• The Kerryman: HSE has 'agreed' new relocation criteria with St Mary's families, 16th November 2016
• Radio Kerry News: Apology issued after St Mary’s of the Angels residents names placed on housing lists without consent, 11th November 2016
• Radio Kerry News: Minister for Disabilities wants St Marys consultation to finish before visit, 10th November 2016
• The Kerryman: Helping St Mary's on the ground, 9th November 2016
• The Kerryman: Taoiseach's 'assurance' on St Mary's, 2nd November 2016
• Radio Kerry News: No imminent closure for St Mary of the Angels, 29th October 2016
• The Kerryman: HSE moves to easy SMOA fears, 26th October 2016
• Irish Examiner: Confusion over long-term plan for centre for disabled people in Kerry, 25th October 2016
• Radio Kerry News:  Kerry TD hits out at Disability Minister over St Mary’s comments, 24th October 2016
• The Irish Mail on Sunday: St John of God added insult to injury to us parents, 23rd October 2016 (not about St Mary of the Angels per se but highlighting nationwide practices of St John of God)
• Radio Kerry News: Chief Health Officer with the HSE says no decision made to close St Mary of the Angels, 21st October 2016
• Radio Kerry News: Families of St Mary of the Angels’ residents vow to chain themselves to Leinster House, 20th October 2016
• Irish Examiner: Families unaware disabled adults put on housing list, 20th October 2016
• Kerry's Eye: Fury as St Mary's row deepens, 20th October 2016
• Radio Kerry News: Minister gives assurances to St Mary of the Angels’ residents and families, 19th October 2016
• The Kerryman, 19th October 2016
• Former care home resident now 'Living like a prisoner'
• Cllrs unanimous behind families at St Mary of the Angels
• Radio Kerry News: Kerry TD suggests residents could remain on St Mary of the Angels campus, 18th October
• Irish Times: HSE should halt plan to move people with disabilities - Senator - FG’s Paul Coghlan calls for ‘more humanity’ over proposal for residents of Kerry facility, 18th October 2016
• Irish Examiner: Campaign to prevent Kerry disability facility’s closure, 18th October 2016
• RTÉ News: Opposition to disability centre plans in Co Kerry, 17th October 2016
• The Kerryman, 12th October 2016
• TD satisfied with assurances
• 'No one will be forced out' - St Mary's manager 
• TraleeToday.ie: Ferris Welcomes Minister’s Assurance He Will Visit St Mary Of The Angels In Beaufort, 7th October 2016
• Irish Examiner: Kerry Care Centre: Campaign to keep centre for adults with special needs open, 7th October 2016
• Irish Voice New York: Families Furious, 5th October 2016 (www.facebook.com/IrishCentral/)
• The Kerryman, 5th October 2016, covered this topic in great detail...
• A mother writes of her heartbreak
• Minister delivers blow to families
• Sinn Féin call on Minister to meet with families
• 'Too early for long-term St Mary plan' - St John of God
• Kerry's Eye: Govt determined to close St Mary of the Angels - Dáil hears Beaufort centre will be shut in five years, 6th October 2016 
• Kerry's Eye: Fury over plans to shut residential home - Families to fight plan to disperse 76 from St Mary of the Angels, 29th September 2016
• The Kerryman: Leave our loved ones in St Mary's - Families reeling after being informed their adult children are to be moved out of Beaufort Care Centre, 28th September 2016