Gardaí are investigating the discovery of a man's body who is understood to be a "rough sleeper" on Suffolk Street in Dublin.
The man, thought to be in his 50s, was discovered unconscious outside the Superdry Store in Dublin city centre at approximately 4am on Thursday morning.
He was treated at the scene and taken by ambulance to St James’s Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
The coroner has been notified and a post-mortem examination will be carried out. “Foul play is not suspected at this time,” said a Garda spokeswoman.
The Irish Times understands that the man had been sleeping rough in the Dublin area for a number of months.
Campaigner Fr Peter McVerry, from the Peter McVerry Trust, said that every death was a tragedy, but this death again highlighted the plight of homeless people.
“Homeless people die every month and not necessarily on the streets,” Fr McVerry said. “People are dying in hostels, dying from suicide, overdoses, and natural causes. That’s happening on a regular basis and the only ones we hear about are the ones found dead on the streets.”
He also noted the fact that the homeless community had a shorter life expectancy because of their circumstances living and sleeping rough.
“Living on the streets and living in hostels is shortening the lives of our homeless community. People do not get to eat properly which is totally wrong. Homeless people do not attend the doctor or the hospital often, and the problem reaches a crisis point when the person can no longer cope.
“Their general health deteriorates if people are living in hostels which they have to leave early in the morning and then walk the streets for the day. I think today’s tragic death highlights the fact that homeless people are more at risk of an early death than the rest of the population.”