A vacant site just across the Liffey from Heuston station, dubbed ‘Ionad Seán Heuston’, has continued to be the focus of protests after a huge Garda operation broke up an occupation of the property by and for homeless people.
At 5.20am on September 26th, over 80 members of An Garda Siochana arrived at the site. Several homeless people and activists were arrested and brought to the Four Courts for a hearing.
They were arrested for breaching an injunction prohibiting them from seeking shelter in an abandoned warehouse at Ionad Sean Heuston.
Following the early morning raid, an anti-eviction rally took place outside of Ionad Sean Heuston, which had been the site of ongoing activity by housing activists.
Last week Ionad Seán Heuston hosted an Irish trad session with a variety of musicians and styles, well-attended by residents and others. Music and laughter echoed through the reclaimed space. pic.twitter.com/HlxNLBlSCH
— Revolutionary Housing League (@rhlireland) September 29, 2022
After being brought before the Court, residents of Ionad Sean Heuston were sent back out onto the street as Dublin City Council Homeless Services had no alternative accommodation available.
The residents and homeless activists who were arrested were released without charge, and a further occupation was begun a few days later in a vacant building at School Street in the Liberties.
“Darragh O’Brien TD and DCC Homeless Services are responsible for this situation. Not once in the four weeks since the court order did they attempt to engage with the homeless there to offer alternative accommodation,” a spokesperson for Streetlink Homeless Support (SHS) said.
The building had been vacant for years prior to its occupation by the homeless and activists.
“Instead, we have a massive Gardai operation and expense to the public,” the spokesperson said.
Darragh O’Brien, the Minister for Housing and TD for Dublin Fingal, has declined to comment on the situation.
“Despite this being headline news over the past few weeks, DCC Homeless Support and Darragh O’Brien have failed to engage with or send a delegate to offer alternative solutions,” the SHS said.
The Dublin Region Homeless Executive did not send any outreach teams to perform welfare checks on residents at the site, activists said.
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