I was already in bed. Tim laughed out loud at me when he came into the bedroom. I asked why. “The pile of clothes on your feet,” he said, gesturing. I’m well known for my cold feet and often use my hot water bottle. I’d been too lazy to go downstairs for it so instead I’d folded a quilt in four and put it where my feet would rest.

Then, for good measure, I’d put my heavy dressing gown on top. The cold sheets stung my feet as I warmed them under my hillock. Gradually the weight began to heat my toes and I knew I’d have a good night’s sleep. I just cannot rest with cold toes. I turned the pages of my book and read awhile.

Cartoon by Clyde Delaney.

I was disturbed by thoughts of Timothy Hourihane’s death in Cork University’s Hospital late on Sunday night.

Timothy had no home and was beaten unconscious and died as a result of his injuries. He would have been one of the many homeless people in our country now numbering over 10,000.

His tent was set alight and the emergency services – the fire brigade, gardaí and ambulance services – all came to Timothy’s aid but it was too late.

Thirty years ago, I never saw a homeless person in Cork city

Isn’t it tragic how all the services arrived promptly to Timothy’s aid but heretofore the help he needed was lacking? It is quite obvious that as a country we are not giving the right supports to people to overcome the challenges of addiction and other issues.

The consequence of misguided supports leads to homelessness and people sleeping rough on our streets.

Thirty years ago, I never saw a homeless person in Cork city. Today, some signs of sleeping bags and bundles of clothes are on every street.

I think of my toes and my trivial routine of making sure that they are warm. I think of Timothy, a rural man, all the way from beautiful Bantry lying dead in CUH leaving a grieving family.

There are officials and volunteers working night and day to solve the crisis of homelessness and yet this human tragedy continues.

A young girl on Mardyke walk

A few weeks back Julie and I gave our annual lecture to the special education post-graduate course participants in University College Cork’s Education Centre on Western Road. It backs onto the tree-lined picturesque Mardyke Walk. The venue for our lecture on “Celebrating Achievement and Inclusion” was upstairs.

My eyes fell upon pieces of plastic and odd items of fabric strewn on the wide hedge

As usual Dan and Kevin, the course directors, were waiting for us. As we had a cup of tea, my eyes strayed out to Fitzgerald’s Park and its manicured hedges and lawns partly sheltered by surrounding trees. The greenness was profound as the falling rain made the leaves glisten in the watery sun.

My eyes fell upon pieces of plastic and odd items of fabric strewn on the wide hedge.

The scene jarred from the usual one of order in the park. I asked Dan what was the untidiness about? He told me that the park was now home to about 15 homeless people. When I looked closer, I could see their tents. We did our business and left.

She should have been in her college apartment with a cup of tea in her hand

Julie was driving and as we exited the car park, I spotted a young girl sitting cross legged at the mouth of her small tent. She had long dark hair and she was reading a book. Her image disturbed me greatly. It was such an ordinary thing to be doing yet so out of place.

She should have been in her college apartment with a cup of tea in her hand.

What’s the story with her toes at night? How does she keep warm to sleep? How has she ended up in the Mardyke in Cork in a tent? Do her family know where she is? What is her life story? This is my curiosity but yet none of my business. Different life circumstances and it could be any of us.

And so, Julie and I continued on our way. My concern was short lived and I forgot about the girl until I heard the news of Timothy’s death.

She must indeed be traumatised and now living in fear for her own life. Sleep will not come easily anymore if ever it did in the tent off the Mardyke Walk. Rest in peace Timothy Hourihane from Bantry, Co Cork.