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How do you fix a country where a 6-year-old has his hand chopped off for good luck?

The president has described a spate of killings and maimings as an embarrassment.

ELECTIONS ARE AN unusual time for most countries – television schedules are messed with, pub chats switch from football to politics and there can be a certain excitement around urban and rural areas alike.

While there can be fraught conversations and hard-fought battles of rhetoric in politically stable countries, the side-effects in developing countries can be more dangerous.

As the buildup gets underway for an election in Tanzania, a shocking element has emerged, leading to headlines across the world.

There has been a spate of vicious attacks and murders on people with albinism because of an old belief that their body parts bring good luck.

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Last week, a six-year-old boy had his hand chopped off by gang members who attacked him in his own home.

What’s the connection to the election?

“The build-up to elections in Africa seems to be something that almost all people with albinism fear. Especially if you go into the rural regions. If their country is going to the polls or close to the border where they are, they fear for their lives,” says Don Sawatzky, Director of Operations at Under the Same Sun, an advocacy group for people with albinism working in Tanzania.

“There is the belief that their body parts will make a person instantly prosperous and wealthy,” he explains, adding that people interested in political positions can often still hold these superstitions.

A complete set of body parts from a person with albinism can sell for up to $150,000 (€140,000).

“The consumer of this product is wealthy,” continues Sawatzky. “The average cannot afford any of that. We have come to realise it is wealthy businessmen, they tend to be politicians. Because of the money that has gone into this trade, it has escalated.”

The practice is a very old one. People with albinism were sacrificed to volcanos in Cameroon; their heads buried with chiefs in Guinea; and up to eight buried alive in the grave of a chief to escort him to the afterlife in Tanzania.

That was to ensure success and power in heaven too.

During the tribal days, these ‘powers’ were only afforded to chiefs and elders. Consent was given rarely and only to a few.

Although the tribal way of life has broken down, the superstitions have remained, increasing the dangers for people with albinism.

“Some of the boundaries that contained the practice have been lost, but the belief is still there that these body parts can be valuable.”

***

It is estimated that there are about 34,000 people living with albinism in Tanzania, with many of the attacks reported in rural areas where people are particularly vulnerable.

“People can protect themselves easier if they get into school or university settings,” says Sawatzky. “It is less likely they will be singled out or attacked. In rural areas, the dilemma is that it is often family members, friends and neighbours who are complicit in the violence.”

In the last two attacks reported in the country, the boys’ mothers were also injured by the gangs and their machetes but their fathers were arrested for their part in the crime.

This week, 225 ‘unlicensed traditional healers’ or witchdoctors were detained by police across the continent as part of a special operation organised in response to the wave of attacks.

CTK Photobank Stock Josephat Torner Nkwabi is an albino from Tanzania. British director Harry Freeland follows in his documentary 3 albinos who fight for survival in Tanzania. Czech News Agency / Press Association Images Czech News Agency / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

President Jakaya Kikwete has said the ongoing killings and maimings of people with albinism is an embarrassment for the nation, as well as a disgusting practice.

Despite the right words from Kikwete, who met with activists last week, at least 154 albinos have been murdered or attacked and lost a limb since the turn of the century. (There have only been five convictions as a result).

There are very few ways that people can protect themselves, save from staying indoors, and that doesn’t always help.

“The number one barrier to justice and security and integration is the lack of political will and lack of social will,” says Sawatzky.

Under the Same Sun, the Canadian charity founded by Peter Ash who has albinism himself, believes that it is the consumer that must be tracked and prosecuted, not just the witchdoctors as they are the ones keeping the business thriving.

“In order to see the attacks and trafficking end, the consumers must be identified, arrested and tried to the full extent of the law,” says Sawatzky. “There will always be another witchdoctor, trafficker and machete wielder as long as there is a demand.

The consumers are the ones that keep the demand alive with the large sums of money they pour into this macabre trade.

And the charity is still convinced that the support is not there from government to help people with albinism.

“To date, the Tanzanian government has done little more than talk and promise,” continues Sawatzky.

“There is a profound lack of political will on this issue. Other than displacing children with albinism from their families and communities into profoundly under resourced government schools, little else has been done.

“Protecting the children in government schools may have been a good short term precaution but now some of them have been held there for up to 7 years. It has now become a long term problem with no proposed solution by the government – they are now ‘internally displaced persons’. ”

***

Not only does UTSS want to change the superstitions that lead to attacks, they also want to reduce the stigma for people with albinism.

They are working to change attitudes in the country, “hitting the youth whose hearts aren’t as hard and more educated”.

“We’re trying to get the next generation to have more social and political will,” Sawatzky told TheJournal.ie. ”Peter and I are not under any naive belief or assumption that things will change in our lifetime.

“Each attack and killing really grinds in Tanzania and internationally. But it does take generations to die off. And there has to be laws to protect everybody, and they have to be implemented and there must be consequences for the crime.”

And it’s not just the attacks. Daily life can bring other problems because of health concerns and isolation.

“Pigmented Tanzanians treat them as inferior because of the colour of their skin,” explains Sawatzky. “Within a people group this is called colourism. Eventually the stigmatised group buys into the message around them and start to feel and act inferior.

“This is called a ‘survival skill’ (agreeing with a perpetrator can bring short term gains) but it certainly is not a good ‘living skill’ (where long term gains are more important for a prosperous life.”

There is also the daily battle against the sun, and the problems associated with low vision.

Sawatzky’s determination to limit these daily struggles is seen through his charity’s education, advocacy and medical work.

“People with albinism are beautiful, normal people like everyone else,” he concludes. “The only difference they have is low vision and the lack of pigmentation (colour & protection from the sun). Many are good natured and happy as long as they feel safe and loved. When that is missing, how could they not despair about their fate?”

READ: Albino people ‘killed for their body parts’ in spate of Malawi murders

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59 Comments
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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Jan 10th 2020, 10:21 AM

    Well done ministers Murphy and Harris

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    Mute geraldo
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    Jan 10th 2020, 10:38 AM

    @Brian Dunne: one more criticism out of you and there’ll be no United Ireland !

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    Mute shayzer
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:22 AM

    @Brian Dunne: get out there yourself and help her

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    Mute Vikki Brennan
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:36 AM

    @geraldo: a moment of appreciation for this comment. Very good Geraldo!

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    Mute Andy mc Laughlin
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:40 AM

    @shayzer: would you have posted the same reply to me as you have Brian Dunne ?

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:52 AM

    @shayzer: I’ll always do my best to help people if i can at all. However what i can do is limited. Ministers Murphy and Harris are elected officials with portfolios in housing and health. They have scope and means to make a huge difference to peoples lives. They are both failing at their jobs, hence my criticism.

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    Mute shayzer
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    Jan 10th 2020, 12:11 PM

    @Brian Dunne: convenient to throw to names out there and then make your excuses. Get into politics and policy and get out there and help her yourself

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Jan 10th 2020, 12:15 PM

    Im not making excuses for myself at all friend.

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    Mute Nicky O'Donnell
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    Jan 10th 2020, 12:44 PM

    @Brian Dunne: Time to stop putting the blame on individual ministers. Time to change the whole rotten system.

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    Mute The next small thing
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    Jan 10th 2020, 12:45 PM

    @Brian Dunne: as bad as those two Minister’s are they didn’t discharge this woman from hospital. Someone signed off on it so that’s where your ire should be directed. Does she have family that were to collect her or where was she supposed to go after discharge?

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    Mute Hawm Quinzy
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    Jan 10th 2020, 1:18 PM

    @shayzer: nobody I’d allowed to criticise anything unless they’re actively trying to pursue a career in it? The government is in a better position to help it’s citizens than other citizens are by virtue of reach and wealth distribution.

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    Mute Paddy J
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    Jan 10th 2020, 1:45 PM

    @The next small thing: Precisely. Attacking the ministers in this instance is a convenient way of letting the whole system off the hook.

    There will be a general election in 3 weeks, how many days are we giving the next ministers for health (Louise O’Reilly) and the environment (Eoin O’Broin) to sort it out before we demand an election or their resignation? 100 days, 1000 days, 5 years, 10 years?

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    Mute eileen boles
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    Jan 10th 2020, 10:02 PM

    @shayzer: but the people hes named are currently supposed to b governing the country right now. Therefore they ARE responsible whether u like it or not.

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Jan 12th 2020, 2:19 AM

    @shayzer: Don’t be daft, there are several thousand people homeless in Ireland. Is he supposed to put them all up himself?

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    Mute Lorraine mcafee
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    Jan 10th 2020, 10:49 AM

    This is heartbreaking , I’d like to hear her story and not the ministers excuses.
    Great work by the volunteers who spotted her and helped her , amazing people . We need more people like this in power not private school boys .

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    Mute Ronan McKeon
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:37 AM

    @Lorraine mcafee: better not vote for Eoin O’Broin or Paul Murphy then…

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    Mute Ali Ní Dhomhnaill
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    Jan 10th 2020, 2:16 PM

    @Lorraine mcafee: our government needs to be kicked out of power and bring in people who can make a difference. The homeless group does great work and most of them are amazing. One bad Apple ruined the group due to lack of empathy and bullying

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    Mute Damien Barton
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    Jan 10th 2020, 10:30 AM

    1 wonder would that man that was complaining about his dp Accomdation not being suitable for his needs . Wonder will he swap places with this poor woman?

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    Mute Karl Harvey
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    Jan 10th 2020, 12:02 PM

    @Damien Barton: Just because someone has it worse off than you doesn’t mean you can’t still want better living conditions for yourself

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    Mute Laura Walsh
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    Jan 10th 2020, 12:49 PM

    @Damien Barton: stupid comment. Neither situation is ok. You are blaming the wrong people for the homeless crisis.

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    Mute Damien Barton
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    Jan 10th 2020, 2:04 PM

    @Laura Walsh: you are blaming the wrong person too

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    Mute Damien Barton
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    Jan 10th 2020, 2:04 PM

    @Karl Harvey: thanks for that

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    Mute Mary Mc Carthy
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    Jan 10th 2020, 10:35 AM

    Shameful . What about the money you were going to spend on commentating the RIC . As it no longer needed could you not spend it on cases like these ? Wake up Leo ……..

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    Mute Larry Roe
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    Jan 10th 2020, 10:46 AM

    @Damien Barton: oh shut up blaming immigrants ,ffs

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    Mute Clifford Brennan
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    Jan 10th 2020, 10:55 AM

    @Damien Barton: “flooding” – I love the smell of hyperbole in the morning. Please affix your bigotry to a different article. Good lad.

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    Mute Damien Barton
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:00 AM

    @Clifford Brennan: please afix your denial to one too good lad

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    Mute Damien Barton
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:01 AM

    @Larry Roe: big difference between immigrants and refugees

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    Mute Dave Thomas
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:11 AM

    @Damien Barton: are immigrants in charge of our government?

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    Mute Damien Barton
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:26 AM

    @Dave Thomas: no Leo was born in Dublin and your point is?

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    Mute Michelle_Herbert
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:14 AM

    We have reached a new low that I didn’t think was possible. Absolutely heartbreaking

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    Mute classic
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    Jan 10th 2020, 10:26 AM

    Absolutely disgraceful, shame on the Dail

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    Mute Trevor Beale
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    Jan 10th 2020, 10:33 AM

    It really is a bad sign of this country, when our elderly are becoming as disposable as our products.

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    Mute Tony O Neill
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    Jan 10th 2020, 10:31 AM

    I don’t believe a hospital would let her out if they knew she was living on the street. She obviously misled them

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    Mute Damien Barton
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    Jan 10th 2020, 10:35 AM

    @Tony O Neill: why would she mislead them? And at the end of the day there an 81 year old woman who’s homeless on the streets of Dublin that is the real light bulb moment here

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    Mute Dave Thomas
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:10 AM

    @Tony O Neill: why would you mislead somebody so you could go and sleep in the cold streets?

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    Mute Michelle Maher
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:19 AM

    @Tony O Neill: I agree that I can’t see a hospital doing that but there is a comment regarding the fact that she asked not to be placed in a particular hostel so perhaps they tried for emergency accommodation for her but she felt unsafe going there. Either way at 81 it is dreadful for any person at that stage of their lives to be facing this. God help her and those volunteers are incredible. She would have been better off walking straight bk into an emergency department than sleeping on the street. The Govt should hang their heads in shame

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    Mute HuffnPuff
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:20 AM

    @Tony O Neill: would you not? Beds are at a premium and if you are better then they don’t care where you are going once you vacate the bed.

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    Mute Conoroconnor
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:29 AM

    @HuffnPuff: one of the reasons hospital beds are at a premium is precisely because many are full of older people who aren’t sick but have no place to go. This too is a result of failure of govt to supply proper nursing homes but I also find it hard to believe a hospital would discharge someone her age onto the streets. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is more to this story . And it is a still a shameful indictment of not just our government, but of the society we have become, no matter what.

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    Mute Tony O Neill
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:31 AM

    @Dave Thomas: Have you ever been in hospital for any length of time?

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    Mute Ashling Visser Bishop
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:38 AM

    @Tony O Neill: A family friend off ours was discharged from hospital. He came out of ICU. Due to his lengthy hospital stay he lost his home through no fault of his own. We found him dead. He should never have been released from the hospital. This was some years ago when the this tragic homelessness crisis started. So, I can confirm that it DOES indeed happen.

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    Mute Ger Healy
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    Jan 10th 2020, 2:56 PM

    @Tony O Neill: How is it obvious? You know something we don’t know? I love your empathy.

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    Mute EillieEs
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    Jan 10th 2020, 8:39 PM

    @HuffnPuff: every acutely hospital has social workers in place to ensure elderly patients have packages in place before they’re discharged. The housing situation is bad but not this bad, it was either a major system failure or else there’s a backstory to this.

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    Mute dearg doom
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    Jan 10th 2020, 9:21 PM

    @EillieEs: There is a massive shortage of social workers in hospitals. There can often just be one and if they are sick or on leave there is no support. The ones they have are extremely busy. The nursing staff would first need to be aware she didn’t have anywhere to.go and then the bed would have to be kept for the amount of days it would take to for the social worker to get to her. But since beds are so short, they could have decided to give it to someone still needed acute medical care.

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    Mute David Dunne
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:52 AM

    When you think you can’t be shocked by the way this Country is been run.Then you see this an 81 year old woman wandering the streets after hospital discharge found by homeless volunteers.
    If this doesn’t make you want to vote this government and their partners Ff out I don’t know what will .shame on all of them .

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    Mute Daisy Smith
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    Jan 10th 2020, 12:37 PM

    It really is heartbreaking to see so many homeless. There’s a man my own fathers age who is homeless around Grand Canal, chats to anyone who’ll listen, he lost his job, then family, then house in the recession and fears hostels for their drug taking so goes it alone. Nicest man you’ll ever meet but just can’t get a break to better himself. Its an infinite loop of misery when you can’t get a job because you’re homeless, but you need a job to get a home.

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    Mute Beer Wolf
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    Jan 10th 2020, 10:42 AM

    That is incredibly appalling for the hospital to discharge her to be left in her own out in the cold.

    Disgusting to treat an elderly person like that.

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    Mute adrian j aungier
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:17 AM

    We are going deeper and deeper into the abyss. Can this Country go any lower when a human being of this Stae at 81 has no roof over their head. Animals are treated better and more compassionately. A sick FFG Governement. I dont hear Murphy FG or O’ Brien FF speaking out for this poor woman. Fingal residents should remember that come the election and confine FF and O Brien to oblivion.

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    Mute MickN
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:35 AM

    Thanks FG voters, same again next time eh….

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    Mute Shane Barry
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    Jan 10th 2020, 12:15 PM

    Yet Leo feels for the Royals apparently with all their millions, I’m sick to death of this clueless and condescending government.

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    Mute WreckDefier
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    Jan 10th 2020, 12:47 PM

    Would the Taoiseach and his ministers like to see their own grannies in a situation like that?

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    Mute The only INFP in Ireland
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    Jan 10th 2020, 4:05 PM

    @WreckDefier: Given their track record on more or less turning a blind eye to the homeless situation, I doubt they’d care too much. We might hear them talking about it if there’s an election coming up but once elected, they’ll rest on their laurels until the next election.

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    Mute Retrostan
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    Jan 10th 2020, 10:50 AM

    Wow the homeless charities finally found someone who ACTUALLY needs help!

    46
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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:03 AM

    @Retrostan: What sort of crap is that comment?

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    Mute Mick Murphy
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:10 AM

    @Retrostan: obscure comment! Far as I see that’s all they do!

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    Mute UCC Social Democrats Society
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    Jan 10th 2020, 12:53 PM

    Unacceptable.

    42
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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Jan 10th 2020, 1:23 PM

    Wow! Thats a new low for this government.

    38
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    Mute olivia smith
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    Jan 10th 2020, 1:27 PM

    Go to the RTÉ news page, they have an update on this story. Woman is not 81 and has been interacting with homeless charities for some time. Also a housing plan was in place for her. Dad she had to be found like that but not all is black and white.

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    Mute olivia smith
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    Jan 10th 2020, 1:28 PM

    @olivia smith: “Sad”

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    Mute Paul Leahy
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    Jan 10th 2020, 1:42 PM

    I don’t blame successive governments for that lady’s plight. No I blame successive electorates who knowingly voted them back in. The average voter knows the plight of the homeless. The trolley person etc doesn’t affect them

    23
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    Mute Peter Heylin
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    Jan 10th 2020, 2:23 PM

    Sensationalist headline by the journal containing false info. According to outreach workers supporting the woman, she is in her 60s. Also the send a correction option doesn’t work – only gives an unhelpful error saying the message couldn’t be sent.

    Obviously not right for someone to be on the streets. I am simply pointing out inaccurate info and a bug on the website.

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    Mute olivia smith
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    Jan 10th 2020, 2:49 PM

    @Peter Heylin: To be fair a counsellor who helped her had it on FB last night and that’s where the info came from if imagine. Shouldn’t jump to conclusions. Get all the facts before posting. Still sad but unfair on the hospital to be blamed. They try their best and with this crisis I’m sure they are up the walls.

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    Mute Peter Heylin
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    Jan 10th 2020, 4:12 PM

    @olivia smith: I didn’t blame the hospital or jump to any conclusions. I suggest you read my comment before responding.

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    Mute olivia smith
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    Jan 10th 2020, 4:21 PM

    @Peter Heylin: not you. There are some on this thread blaming the hospital. Don’t be in such a rush to see blame in what was written to you. I was simply stating that the councillor who had it on FB blamed the hospital. If you read all the comments you would have known what I was talking about.

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    Mute Peter Heylin
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    Jan 10th 2020, 4:36 PM

    @olivia smith: You replied to my comment as opposed to creating your own comment the article. What you wrote was therefore directed at me.

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    Mute Niall Sheridan
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    Jan 10th 2020, 11:55 AM

    Not four more hours Leo! Out you go! You don’t give a damn.

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    Mute Bopper Bops Holland
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    Jan 10th 2020, 1:38 PM

    Well done Irene and Christy

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    Mute Marie Broomfield
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    Jan 10th 2020, 1:55 PM

    If this story didn’t say “appeared to be homeless” would there be such concern or anger? but i’m sure even if it was a person who just wandered off or suffering with dementia , that would still be seen as the fault and responsibility of the government. such a depressing society we have here in Ireland.

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    Mute Mairtin Antaine O Conaill
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    Jan 10th 2020, 3:38 PM

    I can’t wait to read the real story. This is pure reactionary journalism!!!! Let’s throw as many buzz words into a story as we can. Old lady, homeless, hospital, hotel, hostel, and so on. Please print the real story in a follow up report.

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    Mute Mairtin Antaine O Conaill
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    Jan 10th 2020, 3:45 PM

    @Mairtin Antaine O Conaill: wow if anyone wants the real story go to the RTÉ News app.

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    Mute olivia smith
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    Jan 10th 2020, 4:23 PM

    @Mairtin Antaine O Conaill: RTÉ gave an updated story on this and stated most of what was reported by the journal was wrong

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    Mute Cathal O'Byrne
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    Jan 10th 2020, 1:23 PM

    It’s sad apart from the news itself that beside the news of a 81 year old homeless person was an add by a real estate agar there for a property worth 1.85 million. Surely with modern technology and algorithms this appalling alignment should not have occurred.

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    Mute Matt Rogers
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    Jan 10th 2020, 1:36 PM

    “slightly down from October’s figures” may end up being the understatement of the year.

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    Mute Shane Power
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    Jan 10th 2020, 2:54 PM

    Ireland. 2020. We should be ashamed of ourselves

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    Mute Ann Reddin
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    Jan 10th 2020, 5:04 PM

    @Shane Power: No, it is the politicians and right wing voters who should be ashamed of themselves, along with those who can’t be arsed getting of their lazy arses because according to them – voting changes nothing

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    Mute Nan
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    Jan 10th 2020, 2:17 PM

    The fault lies with the person who discharged the poor woman from hospital, should not have happened.

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    Mute Michael Reilly
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    Jan 10th 2020, 3:28 PM

    @Nan: This storey is not factual but of course it suits the lefty narrative of the Journal and the high paid advocates of the homeless industry can have their regular rant.

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    Mute Mary Flanagan Frain
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    Jan 10th 2020, 1:57 PM

    A joke?

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    Mute Eamonn Tierney
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    Jan 10th 2020, 3:58 PM

    Another Shocking Story, so where’s the Accountability

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    Mute OwenK74
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    Jan 10th 2020, 8:42 PM

    Where is her family????

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    Mute Margaret Mc Laughlin
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    Jan 10th 2020, 6:32 PM

    Absolutely Heartbreaking

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    Mute Mags755
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    Jan 10th 2020, 5:52 PM

    Unforgivable. God help her. Truly shocking. Who discharged her ……..

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    Mute Brendan Wall
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    Jan 10th 2020, 4:31 PM

    Are Varadkar,Harris and Murphy dissapointed??

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    Mute Ann Reddin
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    Jan 10th 2020, 4:57 PM

    WTF were the hospital doing discharging an 81 year old woman, who, obviously has no family??? If she did have family. Whoever it was that signed the discharge sheet, should be deeply ashamed of themselved and made to explain to the public why they did what they did.

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    Mute Margaret Kane
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    Jan 11th 2020, 6:02 PM

    Varadkar Murphy and Harris should be ashamed of themselves but sadly they are so up their backsides they have no shame three disgusting men

    2
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