Church action on homelessness

Inderdeep Bains • Published 31 Mar 2009 16:00 0 Comments

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CHURCH leaders are taking action to help those sleeping rough in Windsor after the tragic death of a homeless man.

Churches Together in Windsor is hoping to develop plans to provide food and clothing for the homeless after Patrick O'Leary was found dying outside Holy Trinity Church.

Rev Ainsley Swift, vicar of the church in Claremont Road, said: "We knew him as Paddy. He was one of the regular homeless people who visited the church for the last year or two. Here in Windsor we are constantly coming across a small group of homeless people that we need to be able to help in some way. There are regularly around six or eight."

He added: "We are looking to provide good second hand clothing and food and drink at a specific time on a specific day at a specific venue for the homeless people. We will be using one of the churches. We don't want to cause a nuisance to local residents so we will be sensitive when considering when and where."

Churches Together also comprises Windsor Baptist Church in Victoria Street and Windsor Methodist Church in Alma Road.

Mr O'Leary, who was originally from Ireland, was taken to Wexham Park Hospital suffering from exposure on Wednesday, March 18, after a member of the public discovered him on a bench outside the church. He died on the same day.

His family were traced and the 48-year-old's funeral was held at Oakley Green Cemetery Chapel on Friday which was attended by around 50 people. The service was given by Father Micheal Morrissey. An inquest into the death will be held in August at Windsor Guildhall.

This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 31 Mar 09

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