OpinionLine96 / SoundCloud
A CORK MAN has told of how he, his wife and their four young children spent last night in their car.
The Mallow man, identified as Michael Dineen, told Deirdre Shaughnessy on Cork’s 96FM Opinion Line today, said that the youngest child is just one month old.
We’re living in Mallow all our lives, I’ve been renting privately since my parents died, but unfortunately our landlord sold the property and now we’re homeless.
Michael says that he has tried a number of avenues, including the county council and private accommodation, but had to spend last night in his car.
He said that he has spent the last six months looking for accommodation and has been unable to find anywhere. He says he and his wife have no family members or anyone who can take him in and his wife is “very depressed”, having just had a child.
Michael says that he lost his job a few years ago and is on social welfare.
Michael’s eldest is his four-year-old daughter, who he says “knows something isn’t right”.
He says he has been told to go into a homeless shelter, but he would have to be separated from his family, something he doesn’t want to happen.
The system is failing us. We’re not bad parents here, the system is failing us.
When it was put to him that he was having kids while out of work, he responded “nature will take its course”.
“I’m a Catholic and I do believe in having a nice family. Because my wife has kids, I won’t refuse them.
The people of Cork have an obligation, the council have an obligation and I have an obligation to look after my family.
“I am trying my hardest.”
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