Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Gerry Hand

'Stephen Donnelly said I was a hero working at vaccine centre - now I'm homeless and living in my car'

The receptionist who registered Health Minister Stephen Donnelly for his Covid vaccination two years ago is homeless and sleeping in her ten-year-old car.

And mum-of-two Lauren Masterson, 40, from Bray, has slammed the minister, who is her local TD, for failing to respond to an email she sent to him last February seeking advice on how she could access help.

Angry Laura said: "When Stephen Donnelly attended the Greystones vaccination centre I was working behind the front desk as a volunteer. I have a Bachelors degree in nursing so I was anxious to do my bit to help.

Read More: Met Éireann pinpoints weather change with scorching sun replaced by showers

"After the minister was finished he told myself and all my colleagues we were heroes for helping out, yet now when I need his help he doesn't appear to want to know.

"I am 41 this week coming and that is how I will celebrate my birthday kipping down on the back seat of a car! I certainly don't feel heroic now.

"I have two kids to look after, Mikey, 14, and Alexa, 7, and they are now living with a relative. I contacted Wicklow County Council but they told me they couldn't help me as I was not on their housing list and when I applied to go on it, I was told I was over the income threshold. I am currently working as a paid intern in a psychiatric hospital but not earning enough to rent anywhere."

With nowhere else left to turn to Lauren emailed Stephen Donnelly three months ago explaining her situation and pleading for help and finishing by asking, "Please can someone advise me what kind of supports I can avail of," and has yet to get a reply.

She said: "I bought a type of air mattress on Amazon and I have been sleeping in the car on Bray seafront but more recently I found a street populated mostly by elderly people. I work a 14-hour shift from 7.30am to 9pm so most days I am gone before they wake up and back when they are asleep.

Lauren bought an air mattress on Amazon for her car (Supplied)

"In the middle of all this, I got my degree, how I managed that I haven't a clue as I did the final exams on autopilot.

"What is really frustrating is that every day I turn on the radio in the car I hear about the government building modular homes for refugees. I have no problem with that, but I feel like screaming out, 'What about me, do I not matter, do my kids not matter, it certainly seems that I don't matter to Stephen Donnelly.

"Two years ago I was one of his heroes now I am just someone to be ignored, I am just another statistic."

Minister Donnelly's department has been contacted for comment on this story.

READ NEXT:

Get news updates direct to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter here

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.