Meanwhile, In Offaly

at

tullamore

smollen

From top: Tullamore town, County Offaly; Homeless activist Ken Smollen’s Facebook message

Named locally as Conor O’Hagan, who originally hails from Clonakilty in Cork, he was “hospitalised recently due to the effects of sleeping outdoors and has passed away this evening,” Smollen said. “May he rest in peace,” Smollen said. The cause of his death is not yet known.

Ken Smollen recalled his interaction with the young man in Tullamore: “I only spoke to him once when I gave him a sleeping bag and some food. A number of people tried to help him on numerous occasions, and as far as I’m aware he has been in Tullamore for about 5 months,” he told the Offaly Express.

“He could be seen regularly on the bridge over the river and beside the Bridge House or in other locations on William Street. The last time I saw him he was busking outside the AIB. I know that he was hospitalised about 2 months ago. I haven’t personally seen him on the streets since that,” Smollen added.

UPDATED: Homeless man dies in Tullamore (Offaly Express)

Ken Smollen (Facebook)

Top pic: Millhouse.ie

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10 thoughts on “Meanwhile, In Offaly

  1. Turgenev

    We all thought it was so great when the huge walled mental hospitals were closed down and their inhabitants released into the “care of the community”.

    We all thought it was such a wonderful broadening of responsible home ownership when councils sold council houses and flats to their inhabitants.

    We all thought austerity would change Ireland so people would hark back to a warmer past and look after each other.

    1. Sheik Yahbouti

      Strange, I don’t remember thinking any of those things. Also, there was nothing wrong with Councils permitting tenants to purchase their homes PROVIDED that more were built.

  2. Kolmo

    Were there no state services that could have engaged with the unfortunate man if he has been floating about the streets for 5 months, in full view of the whole town, sad/worrying state of affairs if the young man just slipped throught the cracks

      1. Kolmo

        Yes, someone appropriately qualified to deal with substance addiction or potential mental health issues, employed by the state to reduce the vunerablity of at-risk citizens..

        1. Cian

          Are you sure that nobody appropriately qualified to deal with substance addiction or potential mental health issues, employed by the state tried to help him?

          1. Nigel

            There are no mental health professionals employed by the state any more, just a never-ending series of waiting lists that curve back on themselves in a huge infinity sign.

    1. Murtles

      Not at all. They’ll first have to call a meeting to set out an agenda for a commission that will investigate if an independent consultant should be contracted to engage in exploratory talks with the relevant parties to then see if a report should be drawn up on this matter. Thankfully the FG leadership scramble will cause a timely distraction.

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