Homeless death prompts Cork family’s appeal for Simon

The family of one of two homeless people whose bodies were taken from the River Lee on Sunday night has asked that donations be made to the Cork Simon Community.

The gesture came last night as gardaí formally identified the bodies as those of mother-of-one Michelle O’Riordan, 27, who was originally from Mayfield in Cork, and Patrick O’Driscoll, 53, who was from Skibbereen in West Cork.

Ms O’Riordan’s parents, Declan and Rita, made their donation wishes known in Michelle’s funeral notice.

They will lead mourners at a rosary at O’Connor Brother’s funeral home on North Gate Bridge at 6.45pm tonight, followed by removal of their daughter’s remains to the Church of Our Lady Crowned in Mayfield.

Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 10.30am tomorrow with funeral afterwards to St Catherine’s Cemetery in Kilcully.

Funeral arrangements for Mr O’Driscoll, who had lost contact with his family, have yet to be announced.

The formal identification of their bodies, which was aided by dental records, followed the conclusion of post- mortem examinations.

The cause of death is not being released, but it is understood there was no indications of violence and that gardaí are treating the deaths as a tragic accident.

The postmortem findings will form part of a Garda file for the city coroner, who will hold an inquest into both deaths next year.

Ms O’Riordan and Mr O’Driscoll were last seen in the Anderson’s Quay, Custom House Quay area of the city on December 4.

Both had been using the services of homeless agencies in the city before their disappearance.

Their bodies were recovered from the water close to each other near the Port of Cork sign where the north and south channels of the river Lee converge.

Earlier this week, Ms O’Riordan’s mother, Rita, said her family tried everything to save Michelle from a life on the streets.

She said her daughter had been told she could stay with her, or with her father, but chose not to.

“She made a choice to live this way,” Rita said.

“We, her family and her friends, we tried everything but she wouldn’t listen to us. We’re just heartbroken.

“We were worried about her all the time. I knew in my heart and soul I was going to get bad news at some stage.

“But when she went missing, I knew she was gone. I knew she’d be found dead. We’re just devastated.”

Their deaths led to renewed calls from Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin for the Government to do more to address the homeless crisis in Ireland.