Councillor claims 40 sleeping rough

A CLAIM by a local councillor that up to 40 people are homeless and on the streets or sleeping in cars has been rejected by a Louth County Council official.

Cllr Frank Godfrey told the policing meeting that there has been people sleeping in doorways, cars and fields.

‘ They are living on the streets of Drogheda and can’t get accommodation,’ he stated.

He said there were 40 homeless people in the area and he came across one five strong group from Bosnia settling in to a doorway recently.

Areas such as the Boyne Tower and entries to shops on West Street have all become familiar locations to find people bedded down for the night

‘It is a sad situation with the winter coming and gardai have to go to places early in the morning to move people out of doorways to allow shops to open,’ he remarked.

Joe McGuinness from Louth CC said he would dispute the figures the councillor mentioned.

They are also the homeless authority and that number of people have not contacted them seeking assistance.