Northern Ireland

Homeless death sparks outrage on social with aim taken at north's MLAs

Police and forensic officers at the scene at High Street in Belfast yesterday where a homeless man died in a shop doorway. Picture by Hugh Russell
Police and forensic officers at the scene at High Street in Belfast yesterday where a homeless man died in a shop doorway. Picture by Hugh Russell Police and forensic officers at the scene at High Street in Belfast yesterday where a homeless man died in a shop doorway. Picture by Hugh Russell
By Marie Louise McConville

THE tragic death of a homeless man in Belfast city centre yesterday sparked outrage on social media, mostly directed at the north's assembly members.

While many Facebook users took to the site to express their devastation about the sudden death of the young man, others used the opportunity to lay the blame firmly at the doors of the north's MLAs, who have not worked since Stormont collapsed in January 2017 but are still being paid.

Amid calls for more investment in homeless services in Northern Ireland, other users were quick to point out that with no representatives at Stormont that is unlikely to happen.

One user posted: "Politicians still claiming money that could go to help these people......Even a big tent with ground sheets on a piece of waste ground would be better than a doorway."

Another wrote: "Open up stormont. There is always people watching it. Heating always on. No-one using it. Electric bill going on. So, why not put the homeless in it, as after all it's empty as there is no one wanting to use it..."

While another read: "No one is ever going to change this unless we all take to the streets irrespective of religion or beliefs and tell our mlas that we as a population have had enough but sadly when May comes and the council elections come around we will see the tribalism rearing again and health service, education, roads, homelesssness, lgbt will all be forgotten about..."