COUNCIL DESTROYS CONTAINER ‘HOME’
Residents angry after shelter for man demolished
Homeless man’s clothes were thrown out and the container destroyed KIND-HEARTED residents who refurbished a shipping container for a homeless man were furious last night when it was destroyed by the council.
It was located on Mill Road in Greystones, Co Wicklow, on land owned by the local authority.
In October, local woman Elaine O’connor launched a fundraising campaign to convert the container into a living space for the man.
She told the Irish Mirror locals were upset to hear of the council’s actions.
She said: “They’ve all donated into the Gofundme page and they’ve all supported it.
“The man is on the streets two-and-a-half years locally in Greystones and he’s liked by a lot of people in the area.”
As well as donating cash, several people had given up their time and expertise to help convert the container.
Ms O’connor added last night: “The floors were meant to be going in to it this evening.
“But at some stage yesterday, when the homeless man came back to it in the evening, the container had been flipped on its side and completely destroyed with all his belongings inside it.” Ms O’connor recently helped the man complete manual handling and safe pass courses and he had a new job lined up.
She claimed the container was only intended to be used as a short-term base.
SAFETY
Wicklow County Council said it demolished it due to safety concerns and to address anti-social behaviour.
A spokesman added: “Yesterday, council employees were in on the old depot site and noted an old shipping container had been slabbed out and had what appeared to be some bedding in it.
“Given this container was in a very unstable condition, very rusted, and could possibly fall down on any occupants, once the container was cleared of any contents and there was no one about, it was destroyed so as to not pose any further danger to unauthorised persons.
“This site has a locked gate to the access lane. It was noted the council lock had been broken off and replaced with another by persons unknown. Council locks have been replaced and the lane has been barred by closing off the top gate adjacent to Mill Road.
“The site is not suitable for human habitation and there are no sanitary services available on the site.
“Neither the Greystones Municipal District Office nor Wicklow County Council were contacted in this matter.”
The council advised those at risk of homelessness and volunteers who wish to help to contact the homeless outreach officer.