An Orange Grove resident writes in response to ‘Samaritan Saves the Day’ (North Eastern Tribune, week ending 23 January):
Last night [20 January], the same woman and children took up residence on the pavement opposite my house in 10th Street.
She was cheeky, would not answer as to why she was there, [and] she kept on spouting verses from the Bible, telling us all that we must pray… Unfortunately, it was not a crime, so police stood about helpless.
After several unsuccessful attempts to get Metro police to come and see it as a bylaw infringement, I phoned one of the higher ranks, only to be met with a totally uninterested response. After a very unpleasant conversation, he said he would get a car there.
By 11pm, we were all standing in the road trying to get a reason from this woman. One of the children was coughing. I took out coffee and rolls. There was no place to take them – all [shelters] would be closed. It was a ridiculous situation.
Eventually one resident said the family must at least come and sleep behind the wall for safety. They left very early [the next] morning.
One wonders where they will turn up next, and if… social services should now become involved [and investigate] the mental state of the mother.
