BREAKING: Red Cross pulls out of Athlone flood support

The Red Cross in Athlone has confirmed it has withdrawn from the Athlone flood support team.

The organisation, which mainly relies on fundraising for financial support, had provided invaluable assistance on the ground in areas affected by flooding over the past 10 days, but could not afford to continue to pay for the hire of pumps.

Its unit officer in Athlone Harry Knott confirmed to the Westmeath Independent that its team withdrew at 10pm last night.

Mr Knott said it costs €860 to hire out four water pumps for 10 days and that the organisation could not afford to pay for another 10 days of hire, after the initial hire period came to an end yesterday.

The Red Cross had provided 10 volunteers a day in the Athlone area.

The four pumps – located at Parnell Square, the Strand and two at Golden Island – remain in place, but the cost of hiring them is no longer being paid by the Red Cross.