The brutal death of Frankie Dunne, whose dismembered body was found dumped behind a derelict house in Cork just over a week ago, is incomprehensible, wrong, pointless and without justification, mourners at his funeral Mass were told.

The victim of a gruesome murder was not a violent man and garda sources say they do not know what he could have done, if anything, to have warranted being killed in such a brutal fashion.

Murder victim Francis 'Frankie' Dunne was a client of a high-support shelter a short distance from where his decapitated body was found.

I estimate that this is the fourth Christmas column I’ve written for the Irish Examiner, and while I haven’t looked back at the others, I have a sneaking suspicion there are certain similarities between them all.

Tragic Timmy Hourihane had a long history of engagement with homeless agencies in recent years and was granted tenancy in a supported social housing unit three years ago.

Spending on homeless services in Cork and Kerry soared by 55% last year to over €11.5m.

A report launched in Cork has found that integrated services such as rapid re-housing ‘Housing First’ services and physical and mental health supports are needed to prevent the homelessness crisis from getting worse.

The Menu is delighted to bring further detail to an item alluded to in last weekend’s column, news of what promises to be one of the highlights of this year’s culinary calendar, a fundraising dinner (April 29) in aid of two Leeside charities, Cork Penny Dinners, recent recipients of the prestigious Irish Food Writers’ Guild social responsibility award, and Cork Simon.

There’ll be no fear of too many cooks spoiling the broth when four Michelin star winning chefs join forces later this month to raise money for two Cork homeless charities.

The Cork Simon Annual Fundraising Ball is set to raise up to €100,000 to support men and women in Cork affected by homelessness.

Rent freezes should be considered as part of a radical new approach to preventing the flow of people into homelessness, the head of Cork Simon said.

Spending on homeless services in the south-westrose 24% last year to over €7.4m as the region’s housing crisis deepened.

Training and education opportunities taken during homelessness are giving hundreds of people a first step towards college degrees and personal progress.

Cork Simon has provided extra emergency beds, has lifted all shelter exclusions, and will open its day centre 24 hours a day from today to ensure nobody has to sleep rough as temperatures plummet over the coming days.

Eleven Traveller families are being accommodated in one of Cork’s top hotels following claims their caravans sustained storm damage earlier this month.

Eleven Traveller families are being accommodated in one of Cork’s top hotels following claims their caravans sustained storm damage earlier this month.

People have flown in from Romania to take part in organised begging in Cork City, a senior garda has confirmed.

A 700-year-old Cork choir are supporting Cork Simon this Christmas.

Early morning commuters walked past a dead homeless woman on a Cork City street before her body was found.

One of the most beloved Cork family businesses of the past two decades, the Alternative Bread Company (ABC) in the English Market, celebrates its 20th birthday on Saturday -- with Cork Simon Community taking the day’s proceeds.

There will be more deaths of homeless people on the streets this winter, a noted academic has warned.

Cork’s Simon Community says there is a growing need for increased services for homeless people in the city.

Homeless charity Cork Simon has launched a campaign to identify vacant homes it can buy or lease as part of its response to the housing and homeless crisis.

A survey of homeless people accessing services at Cork Simon has found almost 80% had experienced four or more adverse childhood experiences, such as physicial or sexual abuse or substance misuse in the family.

The 30-year-old woman who died in a tent while sleeping rough in Cork was a “very decent girl” who had fallen on hard times, according to the head of a local homeless charity.

CORK-based brewer Heineken Ireland is making steady progress towards meeting its sustainability goals such as protecting water resources and reducing CO2 emissions, as well as hosting health and safety initiatives and engaging with its local communities.

1 Race to the Finish

Cork Simon relies heavily on fundraising by ordinary people embracing the extraordinary time that is Christmas, writes John Tynan