The Irish Refugee Council welcomes today’s High Court judgment awarding compensatory damages to two men who were left street homeless, hungry and destitute after seeking international protection in Ireland, due to the State’s breach of EU law by failing to provide for their basic needs. The Irish Refugee Council Independent Law Centre’s client, SA, was awarded €9,500, while RJ was awarded €6,000.

This award follows Declarations by the High Court that the State had breached the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and implements the August 2025 judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union that Ireland cannot evade its obligations under EU law to provide international protection applicants with basic needs by invoking the excuse of unexpected increases in people seeking protection and resulting pressures on the accommodation system.  

The matter returned to the High Court for a decision on the level of damages to be paid. The Irish Refugee Council Independent Law Centre’s client, SA, having fled the Taliban in Afghanistan, and without the right to work in Ireland, spent 71 days sleeping rough in Dublin without any government support to access shelter, food, or basic hygiene facilities. This left him exposed to serious safety and health risks, deprived of his basic needs and fundamental right to dignity.

In today’s judgment, Mr Justice Ferriter said that, in determining compensatory damages, “I have regard to the fact that there was a serious breach by the State of the applicant's rights ... it is relevant to an assessment of damages that the provision of mandatory and minimum material reception conditions, including accommodation, under the Directive is intended to ensure respect for human dignity”. He also considered the absence of meaningful financial support, the fear and humiliation caused by being homeless, the vulnerability of the applicant, and poor weather conditions. 

While today’s award is an important step in acknowledging the harm suffered and remedying State failure, it comes amid an ongoing government policy that still requires newly arrived men to prove their need for accommodation by sleeping rough. Over 10,000 people have experienced homelessness since the government stopped accommodating all international protection applicants on arrival in January 2023. From January 2025 to the end of January 2026, 4,618 people were refused accommodation on arrival. The Irish Refugee Council understand that eight men slept rough last Monday night in zero-degree temperatures, despite government statements indicating that there are up to 2,591 empty beds in IPAS accommodation. 

Irish Refugee Council Independent Law Centre Managing Solicitor, Katie Mannion, said: 

“We are delighted for our client, who suffered so much when he arrived in Ireland to seek protection, suffering which should have been avoided. Today’s judgment and remedy seek to compensate him for the suffering he experienced as a result of the State’s failure to respect EU law on reception conditions. The award of such remedies is the method by which individuals can hold States to account when their rights are breached, and is the EU’s way to ensure State compliance with EU law.

Nick Henderson, CEO of the Irish Refugee Council, said:  

“No person, seeking protection or not, should be left hungry, exposed and afraid on the streets of this country. Though damages are an essential mechanism for accountability, they cannot undo the harm suffered. The courts have been clear, the obligation to provide basic needs cannot be neglected because of administrative pressure. We pride ourselves on being a fair and just society. Yet, three years and several court rulings later, we continue to meet people who, without adequate supports, are forced to sleep in wet and freezing conditions and exposed to far-right abuse, before they are offered a bed. It is wrong, unlawful and dangerous.”


Editor Notes:

  • Today’s High Court damages decision. 
  • In the Spring of 2023, over 1,400 mostly men were left without accommodation. Over 10,000 have experienced homelessness since the crisis started.  
  • The Irish Refugee Council have supported 1,746 people experiencing homelessness since January 2023. 
  • The August 2025 decision by the Court of Justice of the European Union followed a preliminary reference from the High Court made in December 2023. The Irish Refugee Council Law Centre represented the applicant, SA. 
  • An FAQ on the case is available here. Initial ruling delivered in April 2023.  
  • The Court of Justice of the European Union’s press release and full decision. 
  • These judgments were issued in respect of two men who experienced street homelessness in 2023. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission brought separate proceedings on behalf of a group of men who were not provided with accommodation between December 2023 and March 2024. IHREC’s appeal of the Court of Appeal's decision will be heard by the Supreme Court in March 2026.  
  • “Now I Live on the Road”, report by Irish Refugee Council. 
  • “If I Don’t Do This, Then It Won’t Be Done - Volunteering with Homeless Protection Applicants,” is a report that captures the experiences of volunteers supporting homeless applicants. 

Further information contact: Wendy Muperi, Communications Officer, wendy@irishrefugeecouncil.ie, 0858550434.