Council Issues Statement On Shelter Demolition

The scene of the crying…

motions ran high on Monday night when news broke in Greystones that a newly-converted shipping container for a local homeless man had been demolished.

A thread denouncing the move by the local council soon caught fire, with a local councillor singled out as being the man who gave the order for destruction.

By the following morning, the councillor under fire, Derek Mitchell, had issued an official statement, denying he played any such role in this seemingly cruel eviction.

Not that everyone was ready to believe that this freshly-furnished home was merely victim to a general clearance of shipping containers from this council wasteland situated behind the Greystones Medical Centre, beside the town’s Park & Ride. After all, two caravans set up home there in October 2016, and are still there today. No pitchforks, no diggers, no social media shit storm.

And now Greystones Municipal District Council have issued the following statement, giving their side of the story…

The Greystones Municipal District Office has been undertaking the demolition and removal of existing old containers and site cabins from Council owned properties in Greystones – 4 to the rear of the council offices on Mill Road and 3 from the old Council depot on Mill Road. This work was undertaken to address anti social behaviour with persons drinking and hanging out in the cabins to the rear of the offices. Given the unsafe condition of these units and the risk of injury to anyone illegally entering the property, the Council decided to demolish these cabins and remove the risk. This has been ongoing for a number of weeks now.

Yesterday, council employees were in on the old depot site and noted that an old shipping container had been slabbed out and had what appeared to be some bedding in it. Given that this container was in a very unstable condition, very rusted, and could possibly fall down on any occupants, once the container was cleared of any contents and there was no one about it was destroyed so as to not pose any further danger to unauthorised persons. This site has a locked gate to the access lane. It was noted that the council lock had been broken off and replaced with another by persons unknown. Council locks have been replaced and the lane has been barred by closing off the top gate adjacent to Mill Road. The site is not suitable for human habitation and there are no sanitary services available on the site. Neither the Greystones Municipal District Office nor Wicklow County Council were contacted in this matter.

Whilst the Council cannot comment on individual cases, it is understood that an individual was attempting to reside in the container. Local media reports would indicate that this container was apparently being fitted out by local volunteers to encourage this individual to reside therein. The Council would advise those at risk of homelessness, and those volunteers who wish to assist in such matters, to engage with the Council’s Homeless Outreach Officer and team.

It should be noted that night accommodation is available for homeless individuals in the Council’s Cold Weather Initiative which opened on Monday in Bray and day services are provided for homeless people by the Five Loaves in Bray also. The Cold Weather Initiative ran very successfully in 2017/2018 – however, it should be noted that not all homeless individuals wish to engage with Homeless Services or avail of this accommodation. Those wishing to avail of this initiative can contact Wicklow County Council, Dublin Simon Community or the Five Loaves to be referred to the service.

You can do your bit for the local homeless by joining the Sponsor A Brick campaign here. You can also donate to the gofundme page set up by Elaine O’Connor, whose East Coast Radio interview is below.