A GROUP of homeless men who had been living beside the Luas line near Milltown have been forced to move to another location after being served with an eviction notice by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.
The eight, who had all been living in tents in the public open space adjacent to Patrick Doyle Road, have all left their encampment in recent weeks.
Last week, only four of the remaining eight remained and after being served with the notice by council representatives, two of the men were preparing to move further along the line last Wednesday.
One of the men, Wayne Peer, said they had decided to move after they were served with the eviction notice.
“They came down here and basically told us we’d have to move on,” Wayne said. “They gave us these letters and now two of the lads have already left.
“Me and one other fella have decided to move up along the line to another spot we found and that’s where we’ll stay for the time being.”
Wayne, whose story was highlighted in Southside People in January of this year (right), explained that he did not want to move into a homeless shelter as he felt they were too dangerous.
“I’ve been in them before and they don’t suit me,” he explained. “I don’t drink or take drugs but these places are rife with them.
“In one place, I was robbed and in one of the other places I was attacked.
“I don’t want to go in them so I’ve chosen to stay in the tent for the time being.”
Wayne and his companions had been living at the site in Milltown since late last year.
They were served with an eviction notice by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council that stated: “We wish to inform you that you are currently trespassing on the public lands, which are in the ownership the council. Your continued occupation and use of the open space for the purposes of maintaining an encampment is unauthorised and unlawful.”
The letter adds that in recent months the council and its agents had engaged in “repeated efforts to make contact with the occupants of the open space with a view to helping them relocate to more appropriate accommodation.”
Wayne said they had already spoken to homeless agencies who had not been able to help them.
A spokesperson for Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council reiterated the need for the occupants to engage with the homeless agencies. as soon as possible.
