General News / September 26, 2022

Gardaí raided vacant property housing homeless people

General News / September 26, 2022

Gardaí raided vacant property housing homeless people

Words: Ciarán Howley

Following a High Court Order, the Gardaí reportedly arrived to detain people living in Ionad Seán Huston, a derelict property.

Footage has emerged online of members of An Garda Síochána arresting homeless people who had taken shelter in an abandoned warehouse. 

The arrest came after a judge in the high court issued a court order prohibiting the use of the building for shelter. 

In the early hours of 5:00 the Gardaí arrived at the property to arrest homeless people taking shelter in the building and brought them to the high court for a hearing at 14:00 today. 

The video was posted by homeless welfare organisation Streetlink Homeless Support who called the arrest a “disgrace.” In a tweet, it went on to criticise Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien and Homeless Ireland for failing to offer the inhabitants “an exit out of homelessness.”

https://twitter.com/theirondad/status/1574322760242925568

Streetlink also criticised the lack of compassion for people without refuge as many of these people will end up in prison purely for being homeless or in an even more vulnerable position like living on the streets. 

A recent report in late June of this year revealed that there were over 10,942 homeless people living in Ireland – 7421 adults and 2478 children.

A rally is currently taking place at the Ionad Seán Huston in protest of the evictions.

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