Homeless man says he's often harassed while sleeping rough in Dublin
by Stephen McNeiceA man who sleeps rough in the Kilmainham area of Dublin says he has been harassed several times recently.
Jason Wilson says he was "chased at knife point" last week, and was "pestered" by two men in the early hours of this morning.
He was speaking following the death of another homeless man in the area overnight.
The body of the man, who was in his 40s, was discovered in a lane just off Madison Road in Kilmainham.
A teenager has been arrested in connection with the death and is being held at Kevin Street Garda Station.
Speaking this morning, Jason Wilson told Newstalk's Barry Whyte that he has been homeless 'on and off' for the past eight years.
He said: "I was here two years ago and last year, and it was quiet. I knew it was safer here than staying in the town centre.
"I'm shocked [by the man's death], because I thought we were the only homeless ones around here."
Jason said he and his partner were 'pestered' last night by two men after midnight, with the men telling them they were 'homeless dossers'.
He also said there have been people "causing trouble the last couple of nights... coming up hitting the bins behind where we sleep".
Mr Wilson told Barry he does feel lucky to be alive following the other man's death overnight, and that he 'knows from experience' how difficult it is to be homeless in Dublin.
He said: "About a week ago I was chased at knife point with golf clubs... I know how rough it is around."