Homeless man who died in city centre was '˜lovable rogue'

The man, understood to have been in his 30s and from north Belfast, was found in Donegall Place.

It is understood paramedics spent over 40 minutes with him at the scene.

A PSNI spokesman said police attended the scene of the sudden death of a man in the centre of Belfast on the evening of February 6.

He said his death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.

Donna Connor, who is part of Hope Outreach for the Homeless in Belfast, said she is “devastated” at his death.

On the ‘Hope Outreach for the Homeless’ Facebook page a post reads: “This morning we awakened to the sad news one of our regular service users had passed away he was a young man who we all knew very well We will put an update on later when we get more information RIP friend”.

Mrs Connor told the News Letter: “He was found at Donegall Place in a doorway.” She said that he was found in his “usual spot”.

“His death was not drugs related,” she said. “He had not been well during the week and had a history of taking seizures. He was in hospital and was discharged on Thursday.

“I was with him on Friday night and he wasn’t feeling 100 per cent but was happy enough for us to leave him.”

Mrs Connor said they “just called him a lovable rogue because he liked a bit of craic and a wee dance”.

“He was a lovely, lovely fella. We are shocked and heartbroken,” she said.

“Everybody was very fond of him. He never ever asked for anything but on Friday he asked me for a hug. We just treat them the way we treat our own family.”

Mrs Connor said he was the second homeless man to die on Belfast’s streets in recent months.

“The last one was Alberto who died on December 6.”