Dublin City Council has said it provides a liaison service to a residential complex in which a man was found dead after five weeks alone in his flat, but that a number of tenants do not use it.
A statement from the local authority did not clarify whether Brian Corr (62) had himself availed of the service.
Mr Corr’s body was found by gardaí on May 7th following concerns from neighbours at the Beggars Bush Court housing complex on the Shelbourne Road. He was last seen five weeks beforehand. The cause of his death is not known but is not being treated as suspicious.
“Dublin City Council operates a five day housing liaison officer service to all residents, if they elect to use it, at each of our complexes citywide,” the statement said.
“However, a number of residents have chosen not to avail of this liaison service and we respect their wishes for privacy and to live independently.”
It said that every senior citizen complex unit is fitted with a number of strategically placed panic alarms which are linked to a central control unit and which can be activated by residents in distress or in need of assistance.
“The City Council will react immediately once notified of an alarm activation,” it said.
“Furthermore, if we receive a call from a concerned relative of one of our senior citizens, we will make contact with the resident, even if the person concerned has elected not to avail of the housing liaison service.”
The council extended its sympathy to the family, a member of which was quoted in a newspaper demanding clarity regarding the authority’s failure to discover Mr Corr’s remains.
His death will be investigated under the Coroners Act, as standard, but foul play has been ruled out.
Local Labour councillor Gerry Ashe said the incident was a tragedy for the tight-knit community. "How deeply distressing it is for his family and for all the other people living there," she said.
“I have been in the houses in Beggars Bush and they have panic buttons. There is also a liaison officer but a lot of people want their privacy and you have to respect that.”
