By Conor Sharkey

RELATIVES of Greenfield residents have described Tuesday's meeting with the Stormont Health Committee as 'positive'.

Hours after receiving a petition containing 750 signatures from the Strabane Chronicle, concerned relatives arrived at Stormont to hand over a further 5,876 objections.

Making the case for the under-fire residential home was Brian Mooney, accompanied by Wendy Hamilton and Geraldine McBrearty.

Speaking following the Belfast meeting, Mr Mooney told the Chronicle that he remained upbeat that the Health Minister could yet be convinced to reject the Western Trust proposal.

"I think the petition was very well received and the meeting was a positive one. They asked us very good questions about the Trust proposal and I think that we were able to put our feelings about the inadequacies and contradictions across.

"We were delighted with the opportunity to talk about the proposal and the committee seemed genuinely impressed at the number of signatures we presented.

"We put our argument across in the context that the proposal was taking away the only residential home in the area and that it is a huge geographical area to deprive.

"Councillor Allan Bresland was with us and he explained that the home stretched out to help many in the rural areas of the District and I feel that was taken on board too.

"They took also that Social Services are very stretched in Strabane and to close such a well working and efficient home without any alternative provision in place is just inconceivable," he explained.

Thanking everyone who took the time to sign their own personal objections via the numerous petitions, Mr Mooney said he was overwhelmed at the response.

"We felt very grateful to the people who have shown their support and I think this will carry a fair bit of weight with the politicians. We have done all we can do and I am sure the Health Committee will pass on our total objections to the Health Minister.

"From here it is up to the Trust to make their decision and ultimately Michael McGimpsey. It was mentioned to us that he is on record as saying that he will only approve the closure if he is convinced that there equal facilities in place and I think that is the nub of the question.

"If they had announced they were closing Greenfield and had a brand new facility in place, that would have been fine. They haven't and I hope the Minister sees that.

"It's a waiting game from here on in, but I am hopeful," Mr Mooney added.