The Monaghan families of children with special needs are staging a protest outside the courthouse this afternoon.
Organised by the Special Needs Active Parents (SNAP) campaign group, the peaceful but visible protest is aimed at all local politicians and specifically the candidates in the upcoming local elections. They will congregate outside Monaghan Court House today between 2pm and 4pm. The parents would like members of the public to come to their protest and sign a petition calling for a special needs school, dedicated respite and day care centres for County Monaghan. SNAP then intend bringing the signatures to the Dáil to highlight their need to the ministers and leaders of the country there.
Paddy McAloon is a member of SNAP. He says local politicians are behind their campaign but more needs to be done:
