For a teenaged Martin Clarke, the pull of a military career was obvious.
Excitement, comradeship, travel, and even a whiff of danger; the Irish Defence Forces seemed to offer it all.
The Dubliner signed up in 1987 aged 17, and served in uniform for almost three decades.
It was “amazing”, he says, although he winces when recalling the cockroaches that infested the ovens and kettles in his UN peacekeeping camp in south Lebanon.
But like so many servicemen, adjusting to civilian life after 27 years of routine, regiment, and discipline proved to be extremely difficult.
“I became homeless when my marriage broke down, and I moved out of the family home,” the 56-year-old father-of-two tells Sky News. “I left the military in 2012, and I’ve been homeless ever since.
“It’s not a good situation – you’re nearly invisible in society. It affects your relationships with your children, you’ve nowhere to bring them. You can’t keep bringing them out for pizzas and the like. They grow up and there is damage done. It’s dehumanising, you know.”
‘The situation is deteriorating’
Increasing numbers of Irish Defence Forces veterans are now becoming homeless, according to veterans charity ONE, with the problem worsening since the end of COVID restrictions.
“The situation is certainly deteriorating,” says Cormac Kirwan, a former soldier and now heading up ONE. “Since I took over as CEO last year, our numbers are certainly increasing at all of our four homes.
“I think it’s a reflection of society as a whole, if you consider the financial challenges there at the moment, the inflationary challenges. Add that to issues that veterans have experienced, for example PTSD, that have caused anxiety and depression, and also familial breakdown.
“So all those put together mean we’re seeing an increase in the number of veterans looking for our support regarding homelessness.”
According to Cormac, the age profile of homeless veterans is getting younger, as people leave the forces at an earlier age, and without an extensive support network.
Martin Clarke on UN peacekeeping duty in south Lebanon in 1991
‘We find it very hard to cope in the real world’
Martin Clarke feels many soldiers are ill-equipped for the abrupt change to civilian life.
“We become institutionalised in the defence forces sometimes, and we find it very hard to cope in the real world,” he says. “Because we’re closeted, it can be dangerous when you come out to the real world; sometimes you don’t have the tools to navigate your way through life.”
“We’re just totally forgotten about,” Martin adds, angry at what he perceives is the Irish government’s abject failure to allay the housing and homelessness crisis.
The most recent available figures from the Department of Housing put the number of homeless at nearly 12,000, up 30% year-on-year.
The ONE (veterans association) pop-up shop window on Grafton St, Dublin
‘The government’s not listening’
Martin says: “There is an anger there, but nobody’s listening. You can be angry, and it’s just going to affect you more.
“The government’s not listening. We’re way down the list of priorities as regards the government.
“They’re not interested in us.”
A spokesperson for the Irish Department of Defence told Sky News: “Department officials meet regularly with representatives of ONE to discuss matters of concern to veterans.
“Advice and guidance is available on a confidential one-to-one basis as required from personnel support service teams on all issues related to leaving the defence forces, including pensions and finance, health, psychosocial issues and preparation for career change.”
The Irish Defence Forces issued a statement declaring its “unwavering” support for veterans’ associations through funding and logistical support. It said the establishment of an Office of Veterans’ Affairs will coordinate future support to veterans.
The founding of such an office was recommended by Ireland’s Commission on the Defence Forces last year, although a timeline has yet to be clarified. The UK established an Office of Veterans’ Affairs in 2019, and ONE says an Irish equivalent would be invaluable in helping vulnerable veterans.
Homeless former soldier Brendan Monaghan sitting in the shop window
‘This is my biggest nightmare’
This week saw ONE take over a pop-up shop window on Dublin’s prestigious Grafton Street, displaying bespoke camouflage streetwear uniforms. The outfits, designed by Irish designer Orla Langan, are embedded with a QR code, which the public can use to donate.
It’s a reflection of the increasing need to highlight veterans’ plight in Ireland.
“This is my biggest nightmare – not having somewhere to live,” says Martin, who experienced homelessness as a child, and spent time in a women’s refuge.
It’s obvious that Martin can hardly believe that after a career of duty and sacrifice, he is once again in the grasp of homelessness.
“It’s something that has affected me from childhood, and it’s come back to haunt me now. It’s frightening,” he says.
“I want a bit of hope, just a bit of hope. But there doesn’t seem to be anything on the horizon.”
