Lives in Limbo – the children: ‘I can’t tell my friends where I live’

Waleed (14) has spent most of his life growing up in a hotel room with his parents and younger brothers.

In the room, his mother and father sleep on a mattress on the floor.

He and his two younger brothers sleep on beds surrounding them. That’s how they have lived for almost eight years.

“I did my Junior Certificate [this year],” he says. “It was really hard for me because I wasn’t able to study properly – because my brothers are fighting and disturbing me all the time.

“I feel I can’t tell my friends where I live. Even if they come over, they’re not allowed to come to my room. I’ve nowhere to play.”

His father Laiq also finds it difficult. The stress and uncertainty have taken a heavy mental toll, he says, but there’s a physical one too.

Laiq has a range of health problems. But prescription charges, for example, mount up when all you have is €19.50 a week. So he ends up cutting corners on looking after his health.

“It’s mentally damaging and physically damaging,” he says. “I have cataracts. I have depression. I have diabetes. I have blood pressure . . . It’s hard to keep going.”