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Weekly steps in to help rehouse destitute soldier

A London weekly has successfully helped rehouse a soldier who was reduced to living on handouts after serving his country in Afghanistan.

The Uxbridge Gazette ran a front page story headlined ‘Help a Hero?’ explaining the plight of Lieutenant Kieran McCrystal, who was 48 hours away from becoming homeless.

The 25-year-old soldier, who was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and had struggled to find a job, was staying at the YMCA in Hillingdon.

After being contacted by a local charity, the Hillingdon Foodbank, which provides emergency food rations for the needy, the Gazette got in touch with Mr McCrystal to find out his story.

Speaking to the newspaper, Lt McCrystal said: “I want to work and rebuild my life, but first I need a place to live – I need to work close to where I am living as I have no transport.”

Within 48 hours of the Gazette’s appeal for help being published, Lt McCrystal had been provided with private accommodation, where he is beginning to rebuild his life.

The Foodbank reported a huge response from local charities and well-wishers, while Mayor of Hillingdon Councillor David Yarrow also stepped in saying: “We have a duty to get our servicemen straight to the head of the queue.”

Dan Coombs, senior multimedia journalist at the Gazette, said: “Lt McCrystal’s story seemed to tug at the heart strings of our readers. With RAF Uxbridge in the centre of town, the area has a strong military connection, and in Armed Forces Week, it is nice to have a successful story to report.

“Local newspapers are about changing the lives of our readers for the better, and making a difference, and if we can carry on doing that, then we are doing something right,” he added.

Dan was also behind the successful campaign by the Harefield Gazette to get a Christmas tree installed on the village green for the first time

Comments

ajinexile (24/06/2010 10:35:39)
Well done, the Gazette — it’s just a pity that there was a story here in the first place.

Subbed Out (24/06/2010 10:55:13)
Great story. Brings to mind one I almost wrote decades ago about an ‘ex-SAS’ guy struggling to win compensation after retiring badly injured. Turned out he was a thief and a thug who blew himself up fiddling his gas supply.