David Devoy (37) from the north inner city, claimed he had nothing to lose by locking himself into the bathroom of St Luke's in Drumcondra, Bertie Ahern's constituency office. He was arrested and taken to Mountjoy and later released but still does not have accommodation.

"I went to the office to talk to the Taoiseach and to see if he could help me find somewhere to stay, " he said. "Councillor Tom Stafford was there so I explained my situation to him and he told me to 'leave it with him' and that 'he'd sort something out' but I'd heard that so many times before from people who never helped me.

"I hadn't planned to do anything like that but I guess it was the stress of everything and the thought of many more nights sleeping in my car that made me refuse to leave."

Devoy is in limbo as two homeless agencies have been unable to offer him suitable accommodation, claiming he falls outside of their remit.

He moved to Tullamore three years ago and became homeless over two months ago after being forced to give up work due to a condition called psoriatic arthritis, leaving him struggling to afford rent.

He returned to Dublin, as Tullamore could not offer him suitable accommodation, but officials in Dublin say they can't take responsibility for him. He now sleeps in his 16-year-old car in Phoenix Park each night.

"I locked myself into the toilets and I said I wasn't coming out until something was done to help me, " he explained. "From the other side of the door, councillor Stafford was telling me that he would sort something out with the council. I asked him to give me his word of honour that he would do something to get me somewhere to stay.

I believed him so I unlocked the door; then I was taken back into his office where they gave me a cup of tea and I explained how frustrating my whole situation is."

According to Devoy, plain-clothes gardai soon afterwards entered the room to arrest him.

"They said if I came quietly they would not put handcuffs on me. Then I was put into an unmarked car and taken straight to Mountjoy; I guess they didn't want to create a scene outside the Taoiseach's office, " he said. "I was interviewed, my photographs were taken and I was put into a cell in Mountjoy."

He was later released without charge and Stafford got him somewhere to sleep that night but Devoy claimed he hadn't had any help from the councillor since, despite calling him "several times".

However, Stafford insists he is "endeavouring" to get accommodation for the homeless man.

"For single males, trying to get Dublin City Council accommodation is almost impossible at the moment, " he said.

"I am only a councillor. I don't dish out accommodation for people. I direct my constituents in the direction they should take to get housing. I don't make the rules, I just direct people through them."

Stafford said he understood how frustrating Devoy's situation must be.

"He took a stand and I don't blame the man.

He was in difficulties, " he said. "It wasn't apparent to me that he was arrested."

A garda spokesperson confirmed that Devoy was escorted from the Taoiseach's constituency office.

"The man was arrested for a public-order offence and was later released without charge. The investigation is ongoing."