Homeless mum abused for photo of children sleeping in police station

A homeless mother-of-seven who shared pictures of some of her children sleeping at a police station to highlight the reality of the issue has been targeted by trolls.

Images of the children, reportedly aged between one and 11, lying on chairs at Tallaght Garda Station in Dublin station last week were widely shared online.

Margaret Cash, 28, has been living in emergency accommodation since becoming homeless nearly a year ago after the rental property she was in was repossessed, The Irish Times reports.

On Wednesday night Ms Cash was told to go to the police station as suitable accommodation could not be found by emergency homeless services.

“I am ashamed that I have to have my kids sleeping in conditions like that. But what was I supposed to do, it was either that or sleep on the streets,” she said.

Ms Cash, 28, told local media outlets that she “felt terrible as a mother” but that she shared the images to reveal “the reality” of the homeless crisis.

“The comments on social media have been horrible, they have no idea what it’s like,” Ms Cash told The Irish Times.

Trolls reportedly flagged images of beer and her daughter’s communion dress on her social media account and reportedly told her they depicted “anything but poverty”.

The mother responded, “It is a bit stupid. It was one box of beer that cost €16.”

Ms Cash acknowledged her daughter had a nice dress for her communion, but explained she was paying for it for almost a whole year.

“I did the best for my daughter. I’ve only got one little girl. Of course I’m going to try and spoil her,” she told the Irish Times.

Inner City Helping Homeless (ICHH) shared the images online as well last week.

CEO of ICHH Anthony Flynn wrote: “This is what this country has succumbed to, this is how homeless services are treating our children.”

Ms Cash was provided with temporary accommodation until Monday, but she is not sure where they will go after that.