No compassion in rush to wealth
Corporation's warden cutbacks leave old people in fear
The legendary tales of the Celtic Tiger's economic boom are of
little comfort to those elderly people who live in fear because
of Dublin Corporation cutbacks. The death of an elderly man and
an investigation by Michael Pierse reveal the terror to which our
old people are exposed.
Patrick Larkin, a 74 year old pensioner, died last Wednesday
following a break-in at his flat in St. Brickin's Park, a senior
citizen's complex on Arbour Hill. He had been tied up by
intruders during the robbery and subsequently collapsed and died,
due probably to anxiety incurred by the ordeal.
``No one, young or old, should have to die in this manner,'' North
Inner City SF Councillor Christy Burke said.
The break-in, Burke said, was the fifth to occur in the locality
in recent weeks and is part of an ongoing campaign, mostly by
drug addicts, of targeting unprotected senior citizens. This has
escalated as a result of local Government cutbacks. ``The reality
of Dublin Corporation cutbacks is that it is the most vulnerable
sections of our society who are being affected. Cutbacks in
warden services, the majority of whom lived in the block
complexes, has left many elderly tenants terrified in their
homes.''
The Wardens, he explained, ``were a reassuring presence
particularly at night-time. Their replacements - mobile patrols
every five hours - do nothing to reassure the aged and lack the
visibility of local resident wardens.''
Councillor Burke, who described the Corporation's tactics as
``mercenary'', has had discussions with St Brickin's residents and
managed to unanimously pass a motion through City Hall calling on
the City Manager to re-introduce a resident warden at the
complex. He will also be convening a meeting with residents and
Corporation Officials on Monday, to discuss fortified security
measures in the flats. The Councillor called on Taoiseach Bertie
Ahern, whose constituency includes St. Brickin's Park, to
``intervene and respond to the needs of his constituents.''
In Dublin's Dominick Street the situation is much the same. A
local SF activist was travelling home on Wednesday night when he
encountered the huddled figure of an elderly man lying outside
Dominick Street Church. Paddy Bulman, an arthritic 85 year old
man, had been lying there for four hours, having fallen due to
his crippling disability, and was unable to pick himself up. He
was ignored by many passersby and, he says, three passing Garda
cars. The SF activist said he had thought the man was homeless or
a drunkard, but found that he was sober, although severely
distressed.
However, this ``Good Samaritan'' story does not end as simply as
the biblical analogy. Having taken 30 minutes to escort Paddy to
his flat, 100 yards away, the SF activist was taken aback by the
appalling conditions to which the old age pensioner has been
subjected.
His door lay open, kicked in by burglars three weeks previously,
untouched by Dublin Corporation despite a visit from the Gardaí.
The flat was dark - there was no lighting because the man was
unable to lift his arms to the bulbs, or indeed care for himself
in any adequate manner. Rubbish was piled up in the kitchen,
mould was growing in the toilet and the conditions throughout
were dickensian.
This is perhaps an extreme example of the poverty and degradation
which pervades our society, undisturbed by the inflated presence
of the so-called Celtic Tiger. Neighbours and the local Community
Care Assistant said Paddy had refused entry to the local
`Community Corps' and various voluntary organisations because of
his fear of burglars - who in the past have impersonated
Corporation Officials - and his physical disabilities, which make
it difficult for him to walk as far as his own doorstep.
Paddy spoke of his fear after being threatened in his flat with a
knife. He now wishes to seek help in attaining residential care,
especially as the robbers continue to return. ``I'm not a bit
ashamed to go through anything,'' he said, ``my time is nearly
over.''
Around the corner another elderly resident, who didn't wish to be
named, spoke of the apprehension and dread which has afflicted
many tenants, young and old, as a result of the continuing
presence of crazed drug addicts. She herself, a friendly and
benign woman, was victim of a hoax attack last Christmas. A
woman, claiming to be the local Ban Garda, entered the flat with
two accomplices. The vulnerable old age pensioner was then held
by the throat while her flat was rifled. ``I'm scared out of my
wits,'' she said, conveying that thugs return at least every two
days and very often at four or five in the morning. They often
impersonate other neighbours or authority figures from the
Corporation or Gardaí.
In an interview with An Phoblacht Harry Shiel, of the elderly
care organisation Alone, castigated the Corporation decision to
withdraw the full-time wardens three years ago. ``It's apalling
that people so vulnerable should be the target of such cutbacks,''
he said.
It is clear that the `Celtic Tiger' economy has not purveyed any
comfort for the elderly living alone in many areas, urban and
rural, throughout the country. These people are not requesting
anything vaguely lavish or excessive. Their only appeal is for a
reasonable level of compassion and consideration. A society
should be judged on the treatment of its weakest citizens - the
anxiety and torment of these residents is a clear indictment of
Government policy towards them.
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