Death prompts urgent calls for 'wet shelter'

A SENIOR garda called last night for the urgent establishment of a 'wet shelter' in Cork following the tragic death of a young mother in a doorway on the city's main street yesterday.

Marie Hanlon, 32, was found lying in the doorway of Penney's store on St Patrick's Street early yesterday morning.

She had become known to gardaí recently as a regular street drinker and is believed to have been sleeping rough.

The alarm was raised after gardaí were contacted by the ambulance service at 3.50am.

Initially, gardaí cordoned off the scene, treating the death as suspicious.

However, following a post mortem carried out at Cork University Hospital by Deputy State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster yesterday, they ruled out foul play. They are now awaiting the results of toxicology tests.

Ms Hanlon, originally from Churchfield, had become known to gardaí recently as a regular street drinker.

Superintendent Michael Finn described the woman's death as "terribly sad" and said it highlighted the need for the urgent establishment of a 'wet shelter', where people would be allowed to drink in proper accommodation and where they would have access to medical help.

"We hope this wet centre is up and running as soon as possible," Supt Finn said.

Cork Simon, which has plans to develop a €1.2m wet shelter on Leitrim Street, described Ms Hanlon's death as a tragedy.

"It is unacceptable," a spokesman said.

"We hope that due respect would be given to the individual, and that that respect would be extended to her family.

"We would appeal to everyone in the community to be aware of the plight of people in this situation," he added.

Cork's Lord Mayor Deirdre Clune described Ms Hanlon's death as "tragic".

She said it highlighted the urgent need for a wet shelter in the city.

The facility should be up and running by Christmas, it emerged last night.