The Year in Review: Taking Back the City

Homelessness never goes away in Ireland. But sometimes just how devastating it is can be seen in a fresh and damning light.

This was the case back in August, when a mother and her six children were forced to sleep in a Garda station after they couldn’t find accommodation.

The images sent shockwaves throughout Ireland. Within days, a group called Take Back The City had mobilised and occupied an abandoned property in Dublin city. When they were evicted, they simply occupied another abandoned property. Then, in September, when the occupiers were forcibly removed from one city centre property by balaclava-wearing removal men – assisted, unbelievably, by the Gardaí – the true face of our security forces was revealed. Property rights was the real mover and shaker. The homeless and their allies could get stuffed. Mass protests ensued.

On a political level, a no-confidence vote was tabled by Sinn Féin against Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy. It was the culmination of months of increasing frustration over the failure of the Government to address the issue in any kind of meaningful way.

In the event, Fianna Fail – the main “opposition” party – abstained, and Eoghan Murphy survived. Which can hardly be spun as good news for all the homeless people out there, who get to lurch on quietly until the next crisis arises.

That’s if the winter weather doesn’t kill them first.