Street death sparks call for action

The death of a homeless man outside Leinster House has prompted calls for emergency measures to address the crisis of people sleeping on the streets.

Charities working with the homeless last night pushed for immediate action, while TDs said the tragic death of the man was a wake-up call to how bad the problem had become.

Jonathan Corrie, a 43-year-old father from Co Carlow, was found yesterday morning just seconds from the gates of Leinster House.

It is understood he had been booked into a hostel last week but declined the help. He was found by a man walking to work at 6.45am yesterday on a doorway on Molesworth Road.

Pat Doyle, with the Peter McVerry Trust, said that the death of the individual sleeping rough in Dublin was a tragedy that must not be allowed to happen again.

“It is an unfortunate reminder that the chance of dying on the street is a risk that over 160 people sleeping rough face on a nightly basis in Dublin.”

Sinn Féin’s housing spokesman Dessie Ellis said last week’s housing announcement by the Government had no inclusion of emergency measures to deal with the homelessness crisis.

He added: “That this man took his last breath just outside the parliament that rubber stamped the policies that failed him is highly symbolic.

“I am truly saddened to hear of his passing. He was failed by this state and he died on the street.”

Commenting on the death, Fianna Fáil’s Barry Cowen said: “Happening in the shadow of the national parliament it is a sharp reminder of the scale of the problem we face as a country.

Mr Cowen said he would raise the issue of homelessness with Environment Minister Alan Kelly today.

Mr Kelly is due to answer questions about his department’s priorities before the Oireachtas Environment Committee.

Focus Ireland advocacy manager Roughan Mac Namara said: “Figures issued only last week show a 20% rise in the numbers sleeping rough in Dublin since last year. Figures also showed a rise in Cork.”

The group said the emergency system was struggling to cope with people seeking beds and that not enough suitable supports were in place for people.

“People are still being failed today as some young people who leave State Care at the age of 18 are being discharged into homeless services,” added Mr Mac Namara.

The comments came as Fianna Fáil councillors last night lodged an emergency motion calling on Taoiseach Enda Kenny to re-schedule an emergency meeting on homelessness, which had been cancelled by Environment Minister Alan Kelly.

The call was made during last night’s weekly Dublin City Council meeting, and comes as pressure is being placed on the Government to organise a Dáil debate on the crisis.