VIDEO: Cork homelessness activists defend protest

Homelessness protesters have defended a rush-hour banner protest over the Jack Lynch tunnel in Cork yesterday, insisting it never posed a danger to traffic.

Gardaí were called to the northbound bore of the tunnel at around 8am yesterday after members of the House the Homeless campaign in Cork unfurled a large banner from above one of the tunnel entrances at around 7.45am.

Staff of the tunnel maintenance building alerted gardaí.

“We understand their intent but anything that could pose a danger to traffic would be of concern,” said a spokesperson for tunnel managers Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

House the Homeless founder Micheál O’Mahony said up to six volunteers involved in the protest exercised extreme care.

“The gardaí asked us to remove the banner. It was all very polite. We were happy that we made our point to the Government,” he said.

Campaign member Diarmaid Ó Cadhla said the banner was attached by strong cable ties and never posed a danger to the thousands of vehicles passing beneath.

“It was quite secure,” he said. “We chose that location because of the density of traffic and to highlight our campaign. We were asked to remove the banner and we did. Our point was made.”

The early-morning stunt was designed to raise awareness of the campaign group’s series of events this week to highlight Ireland’s growing homeless crisis.

They will stage a 24-hour hunger strike outside City Hall from 10am on Thursday, a public rally on St Patrick’s St at 2pm on Saturday to mark World Homeless Day, followed by a sleep-out and candlelight vigil, again outside City Hall, from 8pm on Saturday, to demonstrate solidarity with those who are homeless.

Mr O’Mahony said the events are being supported by Cork Simon, Cork Penny Dinners, the students’ unions of UCC and CIT, and others working in the city to prevent homelessness.

“We want to highlight the growing and deepening housing crisis in this country where official figures show there are 600 families and 1,300 children homeless right now,” said Mr O’Mahony.

“But there is probably a lot more than that. We want to assert and demand from the Government an adequate right to housing.

Meanwhile, Mr O’Mahony’s documentary, Homelessness: A Crisis Beyond Crisis, which features case studies and an interview with leading homelessness campaigner Fr Peter McVerry, screened first on www.irishexaminer.com will be screened in Cork’s Gate cinema on Thursday as part of the IndieCork film festival.

Support the campaign by logging on to www.mycharity.ie/event/housethehomeless.

All monies raised will go directly to the Cork Penny Dinners and Cork Simon.