Ireland’s homeless epidemic is on the rise and this next story highlights just how horrendous conditions can be for those sleeping rough on the streets.
Disturbing footage captured on CCTV cameras in Dublin’s city centre shows a youth attempting to set a homeless couple on fire while they slept.
In the shocking footage, the hooded thug can be seen walking through Foley Street, making several attempts to light an object believed to be a firelighter, before throwing it on top of the couple’s sleeping bag.
In an interview with Pat Kenny on Newstalk, the woman thanked locals for their kindness after the incident.
“Fair play, the neighbours came down. They bring us down pots of tea, hot water bottles… everyone in the flats are very good”.
In almost three years sleeping rough on the streets, the woman told Pat she had never been involved in an attack of this kind.
“Someone came and tried to rob Michael so we moved, – we’re here since”.
“I’m more aware, I don’t sleep as much as I did”, she added.
Recent figures published on Homeless Dublin shows an increase in the number of individuals who have accessed homeless accommodation in the city. In the second quarter of this year 3095 people have availed of homeless services.
