The attorney for suspended Holyoke Soldiers Home Superintendent Bennett Walsh says that his client, who is also his nephew, was suspended from his position because he spoke to public officials about the Covid 19 deaths at the Soldiers Home. That conversation was with Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse.
The comments made by Superintendent Walsh were, according to Attorney Walsh, after several residents had died at the facility. Currently there are more than 77 fatalities because of the virus.
Walsh says there was constant communication between Superintendent Walsh and the Board of trustees at the home and to the State. State officials had contended that they were left in the dark as to the dire situation at the Soldiers Home. Attorney Walsh says that there is a paper trail of communication between Walsh and the State. He also says that Superintendent Walsh had asked for the help of the National Guard.
Walsh says that the allegations against his client that he tried to cover up what the true situation was at the Soldiers Home are simply not true.
The former Hampden County District Attorney says that his client is a Marine. His father a Marine and his grandfather a Marine as well and that he would never put anyone let alone a military veteran in danger.
Walsh had issued two statements defending himself against allegations. He did not attend a news conference in Springfield this afternoon.