Ireland

Investigation after homeless man injured when tents cleared along Dublin canal

A clear up operation took place on the banks of the Grand Canal in Dublin. Picture from RTÉ
A clear up operation took place on the banks of the Grand Canal in Dublin. Picture from RTÉ A clear up operation took place on the banks of the Grand Canal in Dublin. Picture from RTÉ

A homeless man has suffered life-changing injuries after the tent he was sleeping in was removed during a clear-up operation in Dublin.

There have been calls for an investigation after an industrial vehicle was used to remove tents located along the city’s Grand Canal.

The work was carried out by cross-border authority Waterways Ireland, which is based in Enniskillen, and Dublin City Council.

The injured man was taken to St Vincent's University Hospital where he underwent surgery.

The accident took place during a clear-up operation at The Wilton Terrace/Leeson Street junction on Tuesday afternoon.

It happened on the same day Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed that voters will go to the polls next month.

Homelessness and housing are expected to be key issues during the election campaign.

Mr Varadkar said he is "very concerned" about the incident, which has left the man “in a serious condition, but stable”.

He wished him a speedy recovery.

“He is well known to homeless services and has been offered emergency accommodation in the past and it will be offered to him again in the future but obviously our thoughts are with him, and we hope he makes a speedy recovery and we'll do everything we can to make sure that is accommodated,” he said.

Mr Varadkar said he was loathe to comment until all the facts were known but suggested the tents were checked before they were moved.

"My understanding is that the city council and Waterways Ireland did check the tents before moving them, but obviously something went wrong here,” he said.

The Fine Gael leader also said it was important that Lord Mayor of Dublin Paul McAuliffe make a statement.

Mr McAuliffe, a Fianna Fáil councillor, said he was "disappointed" with the taoiseach's response.

"There may be an election ongoing at the present but a human being has been seriously injured this morning.

“That was my first concern when I heard about it, and I wanted to find out the details and so I have asked for a full report.

“It seems that the taoiseach's first thought was to play a political game,” he told RTÉ.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin also said it was "extraordinary" that the taoiseach would call on the Lord Mayor of Dublin to make a statement.

Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy said he has "demanded" a full report into the incident.

Waterways Ireland said it and Dublin City Council/Dublin Regional Homeless Executive “work in co-operation to remove tents along the canals in Dublin where they have become a public safety hazard”.

Dublin City Council said the tents were "placed in a precarious and dangerous location" and "at every action taken by state services is taken in the interest and safety of those experiencing homelessness".