Homeless man whose sleeping bag was cruelly soaked with soiled water and ‘bleach’ by a McDonald’s safety guard says he could not sleep as a result of his bedding was so moist as he calls for an apology from quick meals chain

A homeless man whose sleeping bag was soaked with soiled water and ‘bleach’ by a McDonald’s safety guard has mentioned he couldn’t sleep as a result of his bedding was so moist as he demanded an apology.

Aaron McCarthy was sitting outdoors a Nationwide financial institution department subsequent door to the McDonald’s on Victoria Road, London, on Saturday night time when he was requested to maneuver away by guards employed by the quick meals chain.

Footage uploaded to social media reveals certainly one of them splashing water over the bottom with a mop subsequent to the place the 25-year-old was sitting, prompting livid backlash from passers-by.  

Recalling Saturday night time’s incident from his still-sodden sleeping bag, Mr McCarthy, from Limerick in Eire, instructed The Solar: ‘They do it on objective to maintain homeless folks away however they mop this bit which is not even their enterprise. They cannot be doing that.

‘I could not even sleep that night time as a result of my stuff was soaked. A few of it’s nonetheless damp now. That water had bleach in it. It was chilly water and it is winter. I might’ve died.’

Mr McCarthy, who referred to as the safety guard ‘heartless’, mentioned he has PTSD and has slept tough since he was 18. Describing his life as ‘f****** exhausting’, he mentioned he has been stabbed, had bricks smashed over his head and been mugged as he slept.

He mentioned he receives a £700 per thirty days Private Independence Fee and just lately had his Common Credit score lowered. The Irishman mentioned he had ended up on the streets as a result of his psychological well being points and had struggled to seek out housing. 

Mr McCarthy, who has been residing across the Victoria space for the previous few years, spoke earlier to the Telegraph. 

Referring to the safety guard, he mentioned: ‘I instructed them I used to be outdoors the financial institution, not McDonald’s and so I had nothing to do with them however then certainly one of them got here out with a bucket of water with bleach in it, I might odor it.

‘The man began mopping the ground and kicking my stuff into the water. It was disgusting.

‘I needed to depart as a result of it was so annoying, and I hardly slept your entire night time as a result of my bedding was all soaked. You possibly can nonetheless odor the bleach on my blanket.’

Footage shared to social media reveals the safety guard wetting the world the place Mr McCarthy had been camped out. 

He’s heard saying ‘depart me alone’ as his belongings are kicked out of the best way. 

Bystanders will be heard describing the state of affairs as ‘outrageous’ and ‘bang out of order’. 

Because the scene will get more and more hostile, a safety guard will be seen popping out of the restaurant, asking Mr McCarthy: ‘Why you inflicting hassle?’

However the crowd is fast to leap to his defence, with the person filming insisting: ‘What do you imply inflicting hassle? 

‘The man’s simply lined his sleeping bag in water. It is winter! That’s outrageous.’ 

Damon Evans, who posted the footage on X, tagged McDonald’s and requested: ‘Do you suppose it’s acceptable in your workers to soak the sleeping luggage of homeless folks in the midst of winter (or every other time of the 12 months)?

‘Disgusting behaviour. He wasn’t even outdoors your premises.’

McDonald’s has mentioned it’s ‘shocked and saddened’ by the incident and has completely eliminated the ‘third social gathering safety guards’ from its restaurant.

A spokesperson instructed MailOnline: ‘We’re shocked and saddened by this incident. 

‘The third social gathering safety guards concerned have been completely faraway from our eating places and the restaurant workforce has been reminded of the significance of treating all folks with respect together with susceptible folks each within the restaurant and inside the wider group.

‘We want to wholeheartedly apologise to the gentleman within the video and can work with the council to find him and make amends, as a part of our continued assist for homelessness charities and organisations throughout London.’