Homeless man sleeping in tent discovered dead

A HOMELESS man who is believed to have been sleeping in a tent in Dublin has died.

The man, aged in his 50s, was taken to St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin yesterday, where he later passed away.

It is believed that a staff member from Gonzaga College found the man unresponsive in Ranelagh and called emergency services.

Gardaí are investigating the death and confirmed they are preparing a file for the coroner’s court.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy confirmed the man who died had been availing of homelessness supports. He said: ‘Tackling homelessness remains the top priority of Government and the additional 200 emergency beds for those who are sleeping rough will be delivered by December.’

In October, 8,492 people were homeless in Ireland, including around 3,000 children – a 24% increase from last year, according to Focus Ireland.

Campaigner Fr Peter McVerry told the Irish Daily Mail that many homeless people choose to sleep on the streets instead of staying in hostels – as emergency hostels are ‘so awful’.

‘You’re sharing a room with active drug users. People can be very threatening, very intimidating. A lot of people tell me they feel safer sleeping on the streets,’ he said, adding that homeless people must be given their own space in hostels after the ‘shattering experience’ of being homeless.

In 2014, the death of homeless man Jonathan Corrie made national headlines – and sparked an emergency government response – after he passed away just yards from Leinster House.

However it later emerged that Mr Corrie, who had died of a drug overdose, had been bought two separate houses by his family as part of their ongoing efforts to persuade him to abandon life on the streets.