A man has told Sky News how small he was made to feel when a hotel refused to let him in on a freezing cold night because he was homeless.
Callum Donaghey, 30, was one of two homeless men who a charity had booked into a Manchester Holiday Inn so they could escape sub zero temperatures.
But a member of staff at the hotel refused to check the pair in, even though their bookings were paid for, because they were homeless, in an incident caught on camera.
“It made me feel so small, because we’re homeless. [It] made me feel a bit categorised. Gutted,” Mr Donaghey tells Sky News.
In the video, the staff member says: “It’s not a personal thing”.
“We know people. I’ve been doing the door for a long while. It’s the company’s policy. It’s not mine personally, it’s the company’s.”
Hearing that was like a “kick in the stomach really”, Mr Donaghey says.
Prince William and Prince George help prepare Christmas lunch for the homeless
Plan to tackle rough sleeping unveiled – but charities say it doesn’t go far enough
Prince William marks 20 years as patron of Centrepoint, a homelessness charity Princess Diana championed
“From there, I thought to myself -bloody hell – same again. I was used to it, really. Getting knocked back and knocked back… I was upset about it, thinking I’m going to be out there tonight in -6C.”
Temperatures fell to -6C overnight on Monday, when the homeless charity, Two Brews, booked two rooms for the men at the Holiday Inn on Oxford Road.
“I’m panicking now, majorly panicking, thinking I’m going to be freezing tonight,” that’s how it feels to be homeless when temperatures plummet, Mr Donaghey adds in the Sky News interview.
The mental effect of the cold is “daunting” he says.
“There have been times when I woke up in this cold and cried”
He describes how the cold slowly penetrates and affects homeless people and their health.
“Your toes get cold, your fingers are cold, bad chest, you know, you become ill.
“And especially if you’re lying on the floor with no cardboard, the cold comes through your body… you end up with a really bad chest”.
Read more from Sky News:
What does fatal Minneapolis ICE shooting footage show?
Russian hypersonic missile used for first time since 2024
Mr Donaghey says he has noticed a recent shift in attitudes towards homeless people: “At the minute, I don’t really meet many people that I’d say are supportive of homeless people anymore.”
And it’s “not about money” he says, “sometimes it’s nice to have a little chat with someone and to feel human”.
Follow our channel and never miss an update
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
A spokesperson for Holiday Inn said: “After speaking with team members, we recognise that this incident is not in keeping with our policy of welcoming all and should have been handled differently.
“We sincerely apologise to the guests affected and are taking steps internally to strengthen our training.”
