Eight army and navy veterans face Christmas homeless in Cork

Former members of the Defence Forces face a number of challenges, including marital breakdown and substance abuse

Jimmy Losty, welfare officer, John Walsh, ceremonial officer, Pat Feen, chairman and Diarmuid Higgins, secretary, at the former social welfare office in Cobh, Co Cork, which is to taken over to help house ex servicemen and provide support services for other vets. Picture: Dan Linehan

A total of eight former members of the Irish Defence Forces are facing Christmas homeless in Cork, according to a spokesperson for the Irish organisation for ex-service personnel.

These army and navy veterans range in age from their late 40s to early 60s and combine rough sleeping with using emergency accommodation provided by charities like Simon and St Vincent De Paul, Diarmuid Higgins, chairman of the southern branch of ONE (Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann) told the Irish Examiner.