Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HOMELESS AND DUMPED IN A PARK
Anne, 62, living under tree after being moved by charity over Culture Night attack fears
AN elderly homeless woman is living in a park after being moved out of Belfast by a charity.
There were fears Anne, 62, could have been injured during Culture Night last week.
Speaking at Moat Park, Dundonald, she said: “They brought me here and carried my bags with me to this tree. I’m alright.”
A HOMELESS pensioner was moved from Belfast city centre to a park six miles away to keep her safe during Culture Night.
Now Anne, 62, is living under a tree in Moat Park, Dundonald, after being transported there by a charity.
Culture Night manager Kerry Rooney feared the woman and her belongings could have been set on fire by revellers.
She had been living rough at Donegall Street for 11 months with her belongings packed into bags.
Sources said she had asked the charity to help her find accommodation in Dundonald near East Belfast or Dundalk.
Anne explained: “I was OK where I was but they said my bags made the place look messy and I understand that. I don’t want any trouble and I don’t want to upset people. I thought Culture Night was on for a week so I agreed to go.
“They brought me here and carried my bags with me to this tree.
“I’m alright. It’s sheltered. People have brought me hot drinks which is nice. “
Anne had been sleeping at a hostel in Belfast for a prolonged period of time before she started staying on the streets full time last November.
When she was no longer able to store her substantial amount of belongings at the hostel she decided to bunker down full time at a garden in Donegall Street opposite St Anne’s Cathedral.
Jim Connor from Hope Outreach For The Homeless has been working with the pensioner for almost a year.
He said: “We are deeply concerned for Anne. She is living right on the river’s edge.
“If she fell asleep it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that she could fall in the river.
“The temperatures are dropping now and one night of rain will be a disaster for Anne.
“We are desperate to get a roof over her head. She won’t complain or ask for help but we know she is very vulnerable.
“Anne’s belongings are packed into suitcases and bags and they are very, very precious to her.
“But they have proved an issue to her accessing shelters because she is fearful about leaving her stuff unattended.
“We would like to see Anne in a little place of her own where she could be helped to keep her belongings at a healthy level.
“This lady could be anyone’s mother, aunt, sister or friend. We really don’t know how Anne became homeless but we know she needs help.”
Members of the public have been coming to her aid over the weekend. One local covered her belongings with a sturdy blue tarpaulin.
And nurses working nights at the Ulster Hospital have been giving her and tea before and after their shifts.
Other people have given Anne thermal socks and gloves and hot water bottles have been filled for her to help her get through the night.
She said: “The police came to see me today and they were very nice. They didn’t ask me to move. I am OK today. The weather is nice. I would like a roof to shelter under but I don’t want to put anyone to any trouble.”
Ms Rooney said: “We’ve been aware of the lady who was living in Bouy Park in Belfast for some months and have, like many others, reported our concern for her well-being to a number of different agencies.
“With Culture Night approaching we became concerned for her safety given the volume of material she had surrounded herself with.
“We were worried that, with the huge number of people in and around Buoy Park on Culture Night, a cigarette carelessly disposed of would be enough to set fire to the lady’s possessions and could cause serious injury to her. We contacted Extern to express our concerns on Friday.”
The charity has worked on tackling homelessness, rehabilitation and prevention for 40 years. A spokesperson said: “Every night of the year Extern works alongside partners in the statutory and voluntary sector to ensure the safety of vulnerable people right across the city of Belfast.
“As part of that work we support people living with complex needs and who face daily challenges as a result of chronic homelessness.
“Our dedicated staff are committed to facilitating the expressed wishes and choices of the people we support in relation to their accommodation options, and to ensuring that they remain linked in with our services in order to receive our support.”
The Mirror contacted Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council for comment.
It’s alright. People have brought me hot drinks which is nice ANNE DUNDONALD YESTERDAY