'It's appalling, it's Dickensian': Concern after woman found sleeping in a skip bag in Cork city

A representative for a homeless charity in Cork has said that the discovery of a woman sleeping rough under a skip bag in the city is something reminiscent of a Charles Dickens novel.

The woman, understood to be in her thirties, was found sleeping under a large skip bag in the Friar’s Walk area earlier this week.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána confirmed that members in Cork city assisted the woman, with further guidance provided by charitable services.

Speaking to The Echo, Cork Simon Community campaigns and communications manager, Paul Sheehan, said that this is the reality of life on the streets at present.

“There’s far too many people on the streets right now, we’re told that housing and the homeless are a priority [for the Government] but when you see a case like that, you have to ask, is it really?,” said Mr Sheehan.

“This is somebody who was obviously looking to get respite from the weather, trying to find somewhere secure - not that that’s safe, but in the context it’s as safe as anywhere else on the street I guess - but I think for a woman sleeping rough, someone who is particularly vulnerable, she was clearly trying to conceal herself.

“This is the reality, this is Ireland, and Cork, in 2024 - it’s appalling, it’s Dickensian,” he added.

Mr Sheehan also highlighted that the Cork Simon community’s outreach team met with 577 people in Cork last year, with women accounting for 1 in 5 of homeless people sleeping rough.

“Women are a lot more vulnerable sleeping on the street, and when you see somebody trying to find some level of security under a [skip] bag, that tells you the whole story really, there is no safety or security,” added Mr Sheehan.

“It’s a disgrace, we’re one of the richest countries in Europe, arguably in the world, and we can’t even provide [housing] for people.” Mr Sheehan further stated that the Cork Simon Community emergency shelters are currently at capacity, catering to 75 homeless people per night within the city centre.

“Emergency shelters are full, there clearly isn’t enough emergency beds, and that’s been the case for the last three years,” said Mr Sheehan.

“But even if we can’t give somebody a bed, we will work with other organisations in the city to see if they have one, and try to figure out what the next step is.

“Nobody should be on the street, having somewhere safe and secure to live is a basic human need.” For more information on Cork Simon Community services, visit: https://www.corksimon.ie/.