Homeless man died on freezing streets
Tragedy sparks charity boss’s plea to stop rough sleeping
Michael J. Fox with wife Tracy
A CHARITY boss urged homeless people not to bed down on the streets after the body of a rough sleeper was found this week.
He was discovered Andrew’s Street in Dublin on Tuesday morning when overnight temperatures had plummeted to -5C.
His death is the first official recording of a rough sleeper this year according to the homeless organisation A Lending Hand.
Its director Keira Gil urged people not to sleep out outside as temperatures are just
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HANDS up if you like the strapless Armani gown that Anne Hathaway wore to a glitzy gala in New York.
The actress was at the National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala to present Maestro star Bradley Cooper with the Icon award.
Bradley later credited Back to the Future star Michael J. Fox – who was in the audience with his wife Tracy Pollan – as an “inspiration”, saying 1987’s The Secret of My Success and 1991’s Doc Hollywood were among his top films.
And Martin Scorsese, who won the Best Director gong, joked: “Maybe there’s time for one more.” too cold for them to bare no matter “how questionable they may think emergency accommodation is”.
She explained: “We always try and get them to engage with the services available and always engage with the Simon Community for beds.
“We have never seen it as busy as it is right now, and witness as many people take their chances on the streets because the hostels at the end of the night that might have a bed are the worst for robbing, bullying and drugs.
“We need to ask why people are taking their chances on the streets where it is unsafe instead of the state accommodation offered to them?
“In the 11 years we have been volunteering there has been no political will to improve our services for the most vulnerable people in our society. Deaths could be prevented if adequate accommodation was on offer.”
A Department of Housing spokesperson said the discovery of the man’s body was a “tragedy” and they extended their sympathies to his family.
The official added: “It is important to establish the circumstances involved, and that our response is based on the
Keira Gil best knowledge and evidence available.”
An additional 330 permanent beds have been added to homeless services by Dublin City Council.
The single adult beds were introduced last October by the Council in a bid to get rough sleepers off the streets.
Dublin Region Homeless Executive director Mary Hayes said the beds are “permanent with no end date in 2024”.
DRHE beds were available on Monday and Tuesday when the man is understood to have died.
A file on the man’s death is being prepared
for the Coroner’s office.
We need to ask why people are taking their chances on the street KEIRA GIL A HELPING HAND DIRECTOR
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