Breaking News
Operator of former Galway asylum centre paid 66 million euro
Galway Bay fm newsroom – The private company which operated Lisbrook House asylum centre at Headford Road in the city, was paid about 66 million euro by the State.
The money was allocated to Bridgestock Limited for providing accommodation to asylum seekers in Galway, Sligo and Athlone.
The company, which was owned by Séamus and Kathleen Gillen from Tullamore, became unlimited in 2012 meaning that it doesn’t have to file accounts to the Companies Office.
However, figures obtained by the Irish Times, show that it had a net cashflow of 6 million euro in the year to the end of June 2008, generating an operating profit of 1.5 million euro.
Latest company accounts for Bridgestock, show that the majority of shares were transferred to a company based in the British Virgin Islands in 2011.
Lisbrook House, which was the former IBIS hotel, closed in 2012 to save the State money and its residents were transferred to other centres.
The State has paid almost 800 million euro to private companies for the provision of asylum accommodation to date, with the biggest recipient being Mosney.