St Peter's in Castlepollard.

St Peter's set to close

St Peter’s Centre in Castlepollard, once the controversial mother and baby home run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, is set to close.

The facility, which has accommodated people with intellectual disabilities for over 50 years, is to close at the end of July, and its five remaining residents will move to a new home in Longford.

The HSE said this week in response to a query by The Westmeath Examiner that the motive behind this move is to provide more appropriate accommodation for people in its care, a process which will be carried out once a HIQA inspection is complete.

“St Peter’s has operated as a large institution for people with intellectual disability over the last five decades. It has been widely acknowledged and accepted that people with intellectual disability should live in their community with the necessary supports in place,” read the HSE statement.
“With this in mind, the model of service delivery provided to people with intellectual disability has undergone radical changes for the better in recent years in Ireland.

“The HSE Midlands Area is proud to state that it is to the fore in moving people to more appropriate accommodation in the community.

“It is planned that the five people remaining in St Peter’s Centre, Castlepollard will move from the centre in the coming weeks to their new home in Longford; however; the actual date cannot be confirmed until HIQA completes its inspection of this house as per legislation.”

St Peter’s reached national headlines in recent times when it was revealed by the Adoption Rights Now group that between 300 and 500 children could have died at what was known as The Manor Mother and Baby Home during its 35 years when it acted as a refuge for young women who became pregnant outside of marriage.

It is understood that a possible closure date for St Peter’s Centre has been set at Tuesday July 29.