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Vigil held in memory of the 402 homeless people who died in Dublin since 2018

Organised by the political party Aontú, the vigil was attended by family members of some of those who have died.

A VIGIL WAS held outside Leinster House at 6pm this evening to remember the 402 homeless people who have died in Dublin since 2018. 

Organised by the political party Aontú, the vigil was attended by family members of some of those who have died.

Speaking at the vigil, Father Peter McVerry said: “there is no reason for anyone in Ireland to die in homelessness today.”

He added: “We can all play a role in reducing the stigma that is attached to homelessness.”

The vigil was attended by a number of volunteers from homeless charities including Novas and Tiglin. 

Also speaking at the vigil was Sean Flynn whose daughter Cherie died while experiencing homelessness in March 2022. 

Flynn said he was disappointed to see the small turn out at the vigil and the lack of government ministers in attendance. 

He noted that his daughter Cherie suffered with addiction issues which contributed to her ending up in homelessness.

He said it is vital that the health system changes so that mental health issues and addiction issues are treated in a dual capacity. 

Aontú TD Peadar Tóibín said not enough money is going to mental health services in Ireland. 

Speaking to The Journal after the vigil, Tóibín said Aontú has been looking at the issue of homelessness for a number of years now and that the number of homeless deaths has been “creeping up year-on-year”. 

IMG-4657 Novas staff Rhona McCarthy and Bernie Redmond attending the vigil outside Leinster House

“It’s very clear what the causes are, the causes are obviously, the lack of homes for people, but also the lack of investment for mental health services, for drug addiction services, and for all the wraparound services that people who are vulnerable need,” Tóibín said. 

He added: “We are delighted that Sean Flynn is able to campaign in the way he does given the tragic circumstances of the death of his daughter.”

A number of politicians from other opposition parties were also in attendance at the vigil, with People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd Barrett and Sinn Féin’s Thomas Gould also addressing attendees. 

When asked if he thought there was enough unity amoung the political parties on the issue of homelessness, Tóibín said: “There is an opposition and government split to be honest on this.”

He noted that no government representatives chose to participate in the vigil.

“There’s a spectrum of politics on the opposition side, but I think that all of that should be put aside in relation to actually fixing this crisis for people.

“This is bigger than politics. This is bigger than political parties. This is a national crisis happening on a daily basis throughout our country,” Tóibín said. 

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    Mute Joanna
    Favourite Joanna
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    Jan 10th 2016, 3:20 PM

    No one stays at home these days. The office has been spreading the same disease back and forth all year =P

    285
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    Mute Shane Carroll
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    Jan 10th 2016, 4:01 PM

    A lot of work places now don’t do sick pay and a lot of people can’t afford to lose out on days of pay. It’s a bad policy because anything contagious will just spread to the healthy workers and end up costing the company more in the long run.

    274
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    Mute Stibby
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    Jan 10th 2016, 3:36 PM

    Will you forward this onto my boss please!

    196
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    Mute Sanity
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    Jan 10th 2016, 4:14 PM

    The article makes a lot of sense, but many people can’t afford to take the day off work.
    Schools giving out certificates for flawless attendance is also mad. Being responsible and not spreading illness to hundreds of others should be encouraged!

    162
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    Mute SCO Electrical
    Favourite SCO Electrical
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    Jan 10th 2016, 4:01 PM

    2 year old and a wife that has the hoover going 12 hours a day… There’s more peace and quite at work!!

    108
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    Mute Fred Astare Astare
    Favourite Fred Astare Astare
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    Jan 10th 2016, 3:06 PM

    I have all the above, plus recurring Pancreatitis, Type 1 Diabetes, and now believe it or not TB.
    Don’t feel too bad today.
    Might go out for a run.

    105
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    Mute C Mc Gyver
    Favourite C Mc Gyver
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    Jan 10th 2016, 3:39 PM

    And tomorrow is Monday!!!

    61
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    Mute Ryan Hardy
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    Jan 10th 2016, 4:24 PM

    Antibacterial hand gel, less than a euro in lidl and pocket sized, carry one everywhere!

    61
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    Mute Amanda Horan
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    Jan 10th 2016, 7:28 PM

    Won’t make a bit of difference as colds are viral and anything antibacterial will have no effect

    66
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    Mute Ryan Hardy
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    Jan 11th 2016, 1:19 PM

    Wrong!

    1
    See 1 more reply ▾
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    Mute Amanda Horan
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    Jan 11th 2016, 5:02 PM

    You see this is a huge problem in this country. People haven’t a clue when it comes to the difference between virus and bacteria. This is why people try to go running to the doctor every time they have a sniffle and get angry when the GP wont give little Johnny an antibiotic for his cold.. Antiobiotics will stop a bacterial cell from reproducing but it will have zero effect on a virus. Taking an antibiotic only promotes resistance.

    In fact many studies have shown that these gels are actually spreading viruses as people are using them as a substitute for hand washing which is the only way to keep fomite based bugs at bay.

    3
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    Mute Michael Lynch
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    Jan 10th 2016, 3:08 PM

    Stop being a f-(king wimp and get on with it.

    44
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    Mute Peter Maguire
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    Jan 10th 2016, 3:50 PM

    people are lazy to go to the doctor and prefer to make everyone else sick. My family was sick all xmas because one ignoramus.

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    Mute Debbie Darling
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    Jan 10th 2016, 3:59 PM

    Yeah, how dare that ignoramus not spend €60 to see a doctor, only to be told to get some rest and plenty of fluids. The cheek.

    197
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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Jan 10th 2016, 4:08 PM

    Doctors can’t cure influenza, colds, viral pneumonia and many other illnesses.

    Three days is generally the maximum period of medically uncertified sick leave.

    Often the only viable work option is to struggle on, attend work and try to avoid infecting others. This can result in secondary bacterial infections.

    On a positive note, the flu vaccine is supposed to be more effective this year.

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    Mute Paul Wallace
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    Jan 10th 2016, 5:19 PM

    I agree why go to the doctor to be told what you already know and be charged 60 euro

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    Mute Kirsha Sova
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    Jan 10th 2016, 6:26 PM

    Well said Debbie

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    Mute Timmay Timeo
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    Jan 11th 2016, 8:41 AM

    Who was that? God?

    1
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    Mute Rashers Tierney
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    Jan 10th 2016, 6:15 PM

    Please send a copy of this research to my boss then.

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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Jan 10th 2016, 4:12 PM

    Elevated temperatures and inflammation are a natural immune response.

    Sometimes, not always, elevated temperature may make some infective agents or organisms more susceptible and vulnerable to the body’s own immune response.

    Bacteria and viruses depend on the human host to spread the organisms to other humans,

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    Mute Seán J. Troy
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    Jan 10th 2016, 4:53 PM

    No. Fcuking. Shit.

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    Mute Ken Pepper
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    Jan 11th 2016, 2:21 AM

    Nope…go into work with a deskload of strepsils, lemsips, tissues etc making sure they are in full view of everyone when you have a drawer you could put them into….and make everyone else in the office sick by playing the martyr.

    9
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