Gardaí have confirmed a young mum and her six children had no choice but to sleep in Tallaght Garda Station last night because there was no room for them in emergency accommodation or nearby hotels.
The children are aged between one and 11-years-old.
A photo of the youths sleeping in the waiting room of the station has gone viral.
Co-founder of Inner City Helping Homeless Anthony Flynn shared the shocking images last night.
This is what’s happening tonight, up to 8 families refereed to Garda Stations. Now I’m sorry but this is bullshit! There are 7 children sleeping in one Garda station alone in Dublin tonight. @MurphyEoghan this is your legacy! How could it come to this?#Homeless pic.twitter.com/L4ch69O8tt
— Anthony Flynn (@AnthonyICHH) August 9, 2018
“This is what’s happening tonight, up to 8 families referred to Garda Stations,” he tweeted.
“This is what homeless service are reducing families to tonight. This is one Dublin Garda Station. I’ve never seen the likes of this, someone must be held accountable,” he continued.
The homeless advocate added: “Millions of euros pumped into NGO’s and Hotels and this is what’s in offer. I’m shocked!”
Very young children were forced to sleep in Dublin Garda stations last night due to homelessness. Cannot imagine how tired and scared these poor kids are. Campaigners say this is a national crisis. Photos supplied by @ICHHDUBLIN pic.twitter.com/PdRZDOJdrB
— aoife-grace moore. (@aoifegracemoore) August 9, 2018
The photo quickly went viral with thousands sharing it on Facebook and hundreds retweeting it on Twitter.
The public responded to the horrifying images with great disgust: “I'm just shaking my head, this is shocking, really shocking.”
“This is disgraceful and must be stopped at all costs. We must stand together and fight for the cause of all homeless people of Ireland,” another suggested.
“Stomach turning. In an age where it’s hard to be shocked this image certainly does. Shameful,” one user wrote.
One woman wrote: “So sad to see this. It makes me appreciate my home so much. What the hell is going on nowadays, these poor children sleeping on hard seats.”
