Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Jonathan Corrie RTE

"He could have been helped a bit more": Jonathan Corrie's devastated family on his tragic death

Jonathan died on Molesworth Street in Dublin last week.

THE FAMILY OF Jonathan Corrie, who was homeless and died on Molesworth St in Dublin of hypothermia, have spoken of their sadness about his death.

His former partner Catherine McNeill and children Natasha (14) and Nathan (16) had been searching for Jonathan for a number of years.

On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland this morning, Catherine explained that Corrie began drinking and “getting in trouble with the law” as a teenager.

“At least John can be warm and not cold on the streets any more,” she said.

She said he did get a lot of help from his adopted parents, but after a spell in America it “started really getting bad for him”.

“Sometimes we’d have our ups and downs but we both did love each other dearly,” she said of their relationship. “When he came back from America he was on drugs and I didn’t realise the seriousness of it at the time.”

She said he used to travel quite a bit but he knew she would be there for him. Catherine also said he tried the best he could at being a parent to his children.

“He was trying to come clean ‘cos he was saying that we’d start a new life, that he’d go up to Dublin and try his best to go on the methadone,” she recalled.

Catherine said the family are “very saddened” at his “tragic” death.

She also said it was hard for him to visit the family in Carlow as he needed to check into the clinic every day.

Upset and devastated

His daughter Natasha said: “We are very upset and devastated but he could have been helped a bit more. Like, they didn’t help like the way they should have helped him. There definitely should have been more done for him, like other people on the street as well.”

She also said that the family tried their best to look for him, but never found him.

Nathan, her brother, said they asked hostels and gardaí for information on Jonathan but were unsuccessful in this regard.

“He just didn’t want to be found because he didn’t want us to see how bad he’d got,” said Nathan.

Catherine said:

I just hope that for the rest of the people that are homeless on the street, that have addictions, that they will be given some attention, to be given help, to get accommodation and more help in hostels, whatever help they can give to them.

An emergency summit on homelessness was held last night.

Read: “No need for anyone to have to sleep rough in Dublin … unless they make that choice themselves”>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
46 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brandon Steers
    Favourite Brandon Steers
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 8:27 AM

    This is indeed a very sad story but unfortunately, the sad reality of the situation is that some people simply cannot be helped. You can send an alcoholic or a drug addict to all the clinics in the world but in the end some people always make the choice to go bk to their old ways and simply press the self destruct button

    854
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute I LOVE MY COUNTY
    Favourite I LOVE MY COUNTY
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 8:55 AM

    Brendan, exactly my sentiments. It’s heartbreaking to see people on the streets who have fallen on rough times but ultimately I think it’s not unique to Ireland, especially in our Capital. Every city in the World has a homeless problem, I’m delighted to here that more bedding will be made available but I truly don’t think that will help everyone as some simply can’t be helped as you said – I stopped to give a man money last week, asked him did he want a hot drink as well but he declined. I asked him had he a place to stay and he said “I got a wash and dinner yesterday, I’m happier on the street till next week now. I don’t like hostels and feel safer here”

    234
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pedro
    Favourite Pedro
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 12:03 PM

    I got slated on an earlier article for stating something similar as I found it quite disingenuous with how this case was being used as propaganda for the economically homeless issue.

    The Irish Times are now reporting that his parents bought him two houses which he sold presumably to fund his crippling drug addiction.

    A terribly sad case that’s issue was predominately addiction and not homelessness.

    165
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin O Connell
    Favourite Martin O Connell
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 2:35 PM

    How does the Journal know he died of Hypothermia? Surely that won’t be announced until the Coroners inquest is complete.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Theresa Kavanagh Connell
    Favourite Theresa Kavanagh Connell
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 8:29 AM

    I’m sure his family are sorry but if they couldn’t help him how can they expect others would. He didn’t want to be found or they didn’t look very hard ? People get into drugs alcohol etc and there is help available but you have to want it for yourself.

    562
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aoife O Donnell
    Favourite Aoife O Donnell
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 8:32 AM

    Theresa I think you’ve said that very well.
    I don’t understand in the daughters statement who was suppose to help him more.

    349
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aaron
    Favourite Aaron
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 9:45 AM

    The girl is only 14 and has just lost her dad. I’m sure she just wanted anyone to help him.

    243
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Karen Cullen
    Favourite Karen Cullen
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 2:31 PM

    They couldn’t help him because they being immediate family are the first to also be affected. Denial, lies, guilt and blaming others is a symptom of a person directly affected by someone with an addiction. Just as much support needed for these people as they’re own behaviour can become distorted because of the actions of the addict

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Betsy Malone
    Favourite Betsy Malone
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 6:56 PM

    There comes a point in life when an adult child has to stand on their own two feet. If his parents bought him two houses they did nt do to bad providing him with a home. That’s more than most get. It’s still tragic but blaming others for your unfortunate ways is a cop out.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Betsy Malone
    Favourite Betsy Malone
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 7:17 PM

    Aron her mother would have been more likely to help him that her been only 14. Why did this case make the headlines? Besides this case it was reported yesterday on the radio that a homeless person dies every week in Ireland.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Atticus the Accuser
    Favourite Atticus the Accuser
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 9:57 AM

    I had an uncle who died few years back he was homeless(6 different family members put him up he didn’t want to live by the rules) He had a drink and drugs problem even one of his brothers had been 30years sober tried to help him.(didn’t want it)

    Our family has three doctors and a world renounced specialist and the doctors popped into the shelters to check on him and his mates.

    He had so many opportunities that plenty of homeless never get and went to the grave honestly like a 5 stone gollum he didn’t look human.

    Some people just can’t be helped it just shows the power of addiction and I hope nobody has to see a family member reduced to what my uncle became.

    275
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kal Ipers
    Favourite Kal Ipers
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 9:54 AM

    One of the papers mentioned his family bought him 2 houses. He sold them. This is a personal tragedy rather than a fault with a system. You can bring a horse to water and all that.

    245
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Denis Sullivan
    Favourite Denis Sullivan
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 8:42 AM

    Thank god I’m not the only one that thinks everyone got a turn to be blamed except the man who refused to be found or helped. May he rest in peace, I am sympathetic to the situation

    241
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Twink's Teddy
    Favourite Twink's Teddy
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 10:31 AM

    He was offered accommodation, he had two houses bought for him by his parents, he had more breaks given to him that most people get in a lifetime. Who knows what went on in his head but it’s not true to say he didn’t have any opportunities to improve his situation. Drugs and drink got him in the end, not society.

    206
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anne Marie Devlin
    Favourite Anne Marie Devlin
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 9:18 AM

    Could part of the overall problem be that the primary treatment is methadone? It said in the article that he had to go up to Dublin everyday to go to the clinic, which I presume means a methadone clinic. So, if people have to travel out of their communities and away from their family everyday, then they will create a community at the methadone clinics. The only people they will socialize with are other addicts. Therefore they will see addiction as the norm which leads to the desire to go back to a non drug environment being reduced. If methadone works, then we need more smaller clinics in the community. Bringing all the addicts of a region together everyday into a small geographical area is a disaster for the addict and the community where the clinics are located.

    136
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Harrington
    Favourite Brian Harrington
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 10:04 AM

    Good point, Anne Marie. Also important is the information that methadone is a lethal drug as causes as many problems as it cures. The Health Research Board found that 113 methadone users died of an overdose in 2011, almost double the number of heroin users. At 60, the number of heroin users who died from drug overdoses has been declining for several years now.

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Betsy Malone
    Favourite Betsy Malone
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 7:09 PM

    When addicts are put on a methadone programme it seems go go on indefinitely. Therefore just substituting one drug for another & never getting addicts off drugs. Besides that, the addicts create no go streets or areas wherever they are. When they are high on their fix they are not pleasant people to be around.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adrienne Lyons
    Favourite Adrienne Lyons
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 10:03 AM

    I think this poor man was beyond help. He is at peace now tg. I find it strange his family searched the streets for two years unsuccessfully. He seemed to be so well known to everyone in town. Maybe he got wind of the word and was hiding from them. Poor soul and he had the saddest eyes

    95
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robert Dever
    Favourite Robert Dever
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 8:47 AM

    Addiction and alcoholism is a mental illness that needs help and understanding from all aspects of the community

    87
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Atticus the Accuser
    Favourite Atticus the Accuser
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 10:17 AM

    It’s not a mental illness per se there’s certainly a genetic component to it but also an environmental one too.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ALLEN KIERNAN
    Favourite ALLEN KIERNAN
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 8:34 AM

    As a supposed Christian country, ask yourself what would have happened two thousand years ago, if the man to give Christianity it’s name were about?
    Open our churches he might have said and let the homeless sleep there. Churches are supposed to be God’s houses; why don’t the Catholic Church open them at night and allow them be used for the less fortunate.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vincent F
    Favourite Vincent F
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 8:41 AM

    There is a probability that some if those whom are homeless and are addicts are so because they are trying to escape memory’s of abuse by the hands of the church. Last thing they would want is to step in side the doors of the cult that abused them and refused to help.

    80
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Doyle
    Favourite David Doyle
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 8:48 AM

    Because they would be robbed of everything, that’s the way society is these days.

    106
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fozz
    Favourite Fozz
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 8:51 AM

    Allen, you are deluded if you thing the ‘church’ was ever there to help the needy. It is an institution designed to keep certain men in positions of great wealth and power over the ignorant and has succeeded in that regard for centuries.

    Only education of the masses has broken that spell.

    Oh and yes, some Christians are excellent charitable people but that’s not because of the church..they would be the same good people regardless.

    82
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Betsy Malone
    Favourite Betsy Malone
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 7:03 PM

    Vincent they are very glad to accept food from the capuchin friars.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joan Murphy
    Favourite Joan Murphy
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 11:18 PM

    Betsy , wouldn’t you if you were starving ??

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ray Comerford
    Favourite Ray Comerford
    Report
    Dec 6th 2014, 8:29 PM

    Vincent. That is an outlandish allegation. Very good work is being done for the homeless by Peter McVerry and other priests. As regards the use of churches, it should be considered but there are many religions that have temples, churches and meeting houses. They should all be prepared to help – there is no need to leave the full responsibility to the Catholic Church. People who refuse help cannot be forced to accept it – that would be an infringement of their civil rights. Therefore, it is inevitable that there will be deaths among those who choose to sleep rough due not only to hypothermis but the effects of violence and substance abuse.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marie Cantwell
    Favourite Marie Cantwell
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 10:05 AM

    When people turn to drugs, alcohol or gambling it indicates something is wrong already. This could be any number of things but essentially their lives are too painful to be endured without the rosy glow of the alcohol or the escapism of the gambling! Others flirt with the experience of drugs, gambling and alcohol and use it in a recreational way but don’t get sucked in because they are not damaged and vulnerable in the same way. I am saying it not as cut and dried as it appears to be and while we all have choices sometimes damage and vulnerability predisposes towards self destructive routes. There but for the grace of God….

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chauncey Gardiner
    Favourite Chauncey Gardiner
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 11:26 AM

    Unfortunately treating the symptom i.e. giving a homeless person a home does not rid of them of the underlying problems which led to their homelessness in the first place.
    When a person is so lost in addiction and homeless they feel completely removed from the normal day to day.
    More has to done to help reabsorb the lost and the broken into society. More community and social initiatives. I was heartened watching the High Hopes Choir on RTE 1 last night. How the homeless and emotionally numb responded to music and group dynamic. It was an example of what is possible. People have to feel they have a purpose and something to contribute. Addiction robs you of everything.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick Lenehan
    Favourite Patrick Lenehan
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 2:12 PM

    This man was given two houses by his parents and sold both…………Fact……….a waster in my book and that’s coming from a recovering addict……….

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chauncey Gardiner
    Favourite Chauncey Gardiner
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 2:45 PM

    A house doesn’t rehabilitate you Patrick! When the homeless feel the embrace of society & all it can offer them, only then can they reintegrate and begin to heal.

    6
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Helen Greenfield
    Favourite Helen Greenfield
    Report
    Dec 6th 2014, 5:41 PM

    That is a horrible thing to say about anyone, Patrick you dont know the full story. Addiction is an illness. You shouldnt judge people less fortunate than you, as it can happen to anyone.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robert Dever
    Favourite Robert Dever
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 8:33 AM

    How can acting out in a moment of insanity such as picking up drugs or alcohol knowing well the results be a choice? Please tell me.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aoife O Donnell
    Favourite Aoife O Donnell
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 8:46 AM

    You’ve the choice to pick them up or not pick them up.

    128
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy O'Brien
    Favourite Paddy O'Brien
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 8:51 AM

    eh because you look at the drugs and you think “jaysus will I do them?” and the choice is the thought process that follows, either leaving you full of drugs or full of no drugs.

    96
    See 9 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robert Dever
    Favourite Robert Dever
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 8:55 AM

    In my experience addicts and alcoholics don’t have a choice because they suffer from a mental illness. You wouldn’t speak to someone about choice if they had cancer? Mental illness , addiction and alcoholism are not CHOICES

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robert Dever
    Favourite Robert Dever
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 8:59 AM

    Just because you think that way doesn’t mean everyone thinks the same.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Harrington
    Favourite Brian Harrington
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 9:23 AM

    I agree, Robert. The first time a person uses alcohol or other drugs is by choice. If that person is unfortunate enough to have the propensity for addiction, then there is no choice anymore. The substance, on a brain chemistry level, is as essential as air, water, food, excretion and sex for the addicted person. Many can hold it together for years while they are slowly hollowed out by their addiction. Others slip into chaos from the word go. It’s a terribly tragic world and unfortunately many die. Altogether 607 people had drug-related deaths in Ireland in 2011, the most recent year for which figures are available. Of these, 60 per cent (365, or one per day) were due to overdoses. The remaining 242 deaths among drug users were caused by trauma, such as road traffic collisions, or medical causes such as liver disease.

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Catherine Mayock
    Favourite Catherine Mayock
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 2:05 PM

    Yes,drugs and booze are an illness. And therefore we must sympathise with the person, just like any other sufferer. Sadly most addicts have an addictive personality which makes it hard to break any habit. Forget all the publicity and hype and remember this poor man is dead, and he so deserves the peace he craved. So lets all let him rest in peace.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Betsy Malone
    Favourite Betsy Malone
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 7:00 PM

    Addiction is not a mental illness.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Catherine Mayock
    Favourite Catherine Mayock
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 9:32 PM

    I beg to differ. Addiction to alcohol, drugs is an an illness

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Catherine Mayock
    Favourite Catherine Mayock
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 9:36 PM

    Nobody said addiction was a mental illnes. I think you misread the comment.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joan Murphy
    Favourite Joan Murphy
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 11:22 PM

    Catherine , if you re read the comments you’ll see that Robert said it was a mental illness

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Catherine Mayock
    Favourite Catherine Mayock
    Report
    Dec 6th 2014, 3:14 AM

    We can torment ourselves with the why’s and what if, but it wont make any difference. It wont bring him back, and I think ireland as a nation is grieving ,for the public loss at losing one of its children, RIP….

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute davedunne
    Favourite davedunne
    Report
    Dec 5th 2014, 9:33 AM

    So sad

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds