The Mayor of Galway, Cllr Catherine Connolly (Lab), has called for an urgent review of Galway City Council's housing policy following the sudden death of a tenant facing eviction by the local authority this week.
The mayor also expressed serious concern at confirmation that Cope, the crisis housing organisation, was instructed by the local authority not to provide homeless services to the tenant, Ms Bríd Cummins.
Ms Cummins (48), who had a disability, was due to be evicted from her council flat on Munster Avenue, Galway, on Monday of this week.
She was found dead at home that morning. Gardaí do not believe foul play was involved.
A fortnight ago Ms Cummins lost an appeal against a district court eviction order at a hearing of Galway Circuit Court. Evidence was heard that she had threatened, verbally abused and frightened neighbours, but Ms Cummins denied the allegations.
It is understood she was unhappy with aspects of her accommodation and had lodged complaints with the city council.
Cope, which is contracted by Galway City Council and the Western Health Board (WHB) to provide emergency accommodation services in the city, said yesterday it had received letters from the council on November 29th.
These instructed that Ms Cummins should not be offered homeless services before or after the date of her eviction on December 6th.
Mr Martin O'Connor, assistant director of Cope, said that although it was contracted by the local authority and health board, it operated independently of both and carried out its own assessments of needs.
It wrote to Mr Ciarán Hayes, director of services for housing, on December 3rd, recording its objection to the instruction.
Mr O'Connor said Cope had decided "earlier" on December 6th to provide emergency accommodation for Ms Cummins if she should present herself as homeless, and it informed the city council that it was doing this.
However, Ms Cummins, who hadn't been known to the organisation before, didn't approach it, and was found dead that day.
Mr O'Connor said Cope wished to sympathise with the family and friends of Ms Cummins.
Cllr Connolly said she was "shocked" at this development. "There should be no interference with homeless services at the direction of the city council."
She called for a review of housing policy in relation to evictions.
Galway City Council said yesterday Ms Cummins's death was a "great tragedy" and it expressed sympathy to her family, friends and the community where she had lived.
"Out of respect for all concerned we do not think it is appropriate to make further comment," it said in a statement.