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Fight on for Army about-turn 03.11.08

THERE was a large turn-out at a public meeting last week as supporters of Donegal's defence forces pledged to fight for the retention of barracks in Letterkenny and Lifford. Up to 200 people including ex-members of the defence forces, the Mayor of Letterkenny and Sinn Féin, Fine Gael, and Independent elected representatives, attended the packed meeting on Thursday night.
Sinn Féin said there was disappointment among the crowd that none of the Fianna Fáil county councillors turned up. Chaired by Sinn Féin Councillor, Cora Harvey, the guest speakers at the meeting were Gerry Rooney, president of PDFORRA, Jason Black, chamber president and Martin Giblin, ex member of the defence forces and PDFORRA.  The large crowd that turned out in Letterkenny in a bid to save the local barracks.
The elected representatives present on the night all spoke and offered their support to the families and friends present.
"The meeting was spear headed by Sinn Féin on behalf of the public and PDFORRA who had raised concerns over the past two weeks since the Government announcement that the Army barracks in Rockhill and Lifford are to close in so called 'cost containment measures'," said Cllr Harvey.
"At town council level and at county council level we will bring this issue forward to the Minister of Defence. However, it is vital that this campaign doesn't lose momentum as we have a limited timeframe," she said.
Following the meeting in Letterkenny, PDFORRA pledged to co-ordinate a campaign committee to take the next steps, including a petition supported by Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce.
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