Someone urinated on an elderly homeless man on the streets of Dublin last night

You have to wonder about the kind of minds that could conjure doing this to a vulnerable person.

Our colleagues in JOE.ie alerted us to this shocking story from readers Julie O'Connor, who runs the homeless charity Walking In THEIR Shoes, and Chris Turner, from You're Not Alone. She tells how a woman called her around 1.30am to report four guys hassling a homeless person on the streets of Dublin, and that one of the men had actually urinated on the person. The girl who rand Julie had confronted the offender, before he and his friends scattered. Julie then went to assist the distressed homeless man, who, she learned, was named Thomas and was 67-years-old. Some people really just are animals. Her post reads:

"Last night at 1.30am I got a phone call from one of my friend's daughter. She was distressed and it took her a while to calm down and explain to me exactly what had happened. I was also a little perplexed as to why she was calling me. Then she explained and I was upset, furious and disgusted about what had happened. "She had been waiting for a bus when she saw 4 youths approach a homeless guy sleeping when one of of them actually urinated on the homeless guy right in front of her eyes, whist the others looked on laughing. Without thinking she ran over screaming at them to stop but after giving her abuse they ran off. "The guy they had urinated on was obviously mortified and very upset about what had happened and all she could think of doing was ringing me, knowing how I helped with the homeless. Usually I would have contacted Inner City helping the homeless to see if they could get out to her but their line was busy, and with her being so upset I just picked up an emergency bag we have ready, with a full set of warm clothes, towels, wipes, sleeping bag and went straight out to them. "The guy's name was Thomas, and he was extremely embarrassed and very upset. At 67 years old he had fallen on hard times and admitted he had turned to the drink. But [he] refused to sleep in the hostels as he never felt safe. I tried to convince him to let me take him to the Merchants Quay Night Cafe where he could shower and change but he was just too embarrassed and ashamed. "He also refused to let me call the Gardai to report the incident. Instead all I could do was encourage him to change out of the soiled top and trousers wash himself down and put on a clean dry change of clothing. All the time whilst couples walked passed, not caring about what had happened. Too busy to even take a moment to ask if he was ok. "After he got changed we took him to Burger King and got him something to eat and drink whist still trying to encourage him to let me try and get him a bed for the night. But no: all he would take was a fresh sleeping bag and a pillow assuring us that he would be ok and would go to Merchants Quay tomorrow for a shower. "I cried leaving him as did this wee girl who had called me. How can our fallen heroes be treated this way? Not only by a government that has failed them, but by a society that feels it's ok to treat a fellow human being in this way. I swear if I'd seen this happen I'd be locked up by now for assault. God forgive them and also those too who saw this happen and ignored it. "I'm just heartbroken. Please god he will find his way and get off the streets. I have said I will call to see him tonight and have asked ICHH to keep an eye out for him on their travels in the area. Wish we could do more but apart from bring him home with me - what ??"

Note: The image used on the Walking In THEIR Shoes Facebook page does not depict last night's incident.