begging

Cadyboo · 28-09-2014 11:12pm

Those beggars on Washington st work for someone. Some time last year we saw a big jeep drive up the beggar went over handed in his money, got some back, jumped into the jeep and another guy got out and sat in his spot. Later that night we saw the first guy further up the street. They are wearing the best of gear and all have good phones. Tbh I just don't give to any of them anymore.

whisky_galore · 29-09-2014 8:23am

Some sort of a public infomation campaign is needed; informing people if they want to give, give to the recognised charities only, not to any random on a street corner. Cut off the source of easy money and that cuts off the spoofers and organised begging rings.

SusieBlue · 22-10-2014 8:13pm

There was a lady begging by Finns Corner on Grand Parade today.

Platinum blonde hair (no roots), a full face of make up, and respectable enough clothes. She had two bags of shopping and a phone in her hand. Granted, she didn't seem to be in her right mind but she certainly didn't appear to be someone who had fallen on hard times. She most certainly didn't seem homeless. She was stopping everyone that walked past asking for change, she appeared to have accumulated quite a bit by the sound of her coffee cup by the time I passed her.

Its so hard trying to figure out whether someone genuinely needs help or is just chancing her arm. This lady seemed like a chancer but you can never be sure!

IrishGurll · 03-11-2014 1:36pm

My mam was doing her shopping in dunnes in North Main Street about two weeks ago and a man (definitely on drugs) came up to her trying to see her SVP vouchers for 50 euro, he followed her around the whole shop trying to prove they were real and was getting very aggressive. My mam was getting frightened so reported him to one of the security guards in there and he got escorted out. She was in town again on Saturday and the same man followed her in North Main Street and grabbed her jacket and called her a "rat". She was petrified. North Main Street is flooded with junkies.

SusieBlue · 04-11-2014 12:34am

IrishGurll wrote: »

My mam was doing her shopping in dunnes in North Main Street about two weeks ago and a man (definitely on drugs) came up to her trying to see her SVP vouchers for 50 euro, he followed her around the whole shop trying to prove they were real and was getting very aggressive. My mam was getting frightened so reported him to one of the security guards in there and he got escorted out. She was in town again on Saturday and the same man followed her in North Main Street and grabbed her jacket and called her a "rat". She was petrified. North Main Street is flooded with junkies.

I would rather walk to Douglas or Wilton than do my shopping in Dunnes on North Main street. Its a rough area and that shopping centre is dreary, dirty and full of trouble. Your poor mam must have been terrified, tell her to do her shopping in Dunnes in Merchants Quay/Patrick Street or in Tesco on Paul St. in future. Not that there isn't trouble in those areas too, but they are certainly less shady and dodgy than North Main street, and more populated too.

farmerjj · 04-11-2014 9:57am

Only way to stop begging is not to give them money.

darkdubh · 04-11-2014 10:14am

North Main St looks like The Luftwaffe bombed it.Its been going to pot for years.

whisky_galore · 04-11-2014 11:16am

A Luftwaffe bombing might actually improve it.

Totally Tropical · 05-11-2014 12:42am

I don't agree with the North Main Street bashing.It's always been a rough and ready/what you see is what you get street but i've always walked down there without having any problems.I think that street has a certain character to it that i find refreshing.You see fellas begging on Oliver Plunkett Street as well and that is the citys second most important retail street after Pana.That incident in the North Main Street shopping centre that another poster alluded to was nasty but the way some people are going on.If i was to listen to them i'd be wearing a flack jacket and walking around with bodyguards on my next visit to town!Cork is not perfect but it's one of the safest cities in Europe.

the beer revolu · 05-11-2014 10:18am

I agree with the above post. I walk on North Main Street almost daily and find it fine. It is also home to Bradley's - Cork's best off licence and artisan food shop. The kind of hysterical advice posted here advising people to avoid the area only serves to degrade the area.
As more and more law abiding citizens abandon the streets, the scumbags move in.

North Main Street really is no worse than any other part of town. There is one vacant site but very few empty buildings. I suspect that the people lambasting the area and advising people to avoid the area are not really that familiar with the street.

j8wk2feszrnpao · 05-11-2014 12:14pm

Was in the city twice over the weekend; early morning and late evening. And was back there yesterday as well.

Walked through North Main Street on each occasion; no junkies, no beggars, street was clean (as clean as any other street), no one being aggressive, no shelling from 1940's German aircraft. Just regular people going about their daily lives.

As beer rev said, some nice shops on the street, and it's far from the worst place in the city.

54kroc · 05-11-2014 9:49pm

Anytime I'm pinting in a bar on the North Main St I quite enjoy having a smoke outside on the street, you get to see drunk angry norries kicking the crap out of each other, happy days.
Seriously though the street needs help, I think it would be great if more businesses like Bradleys were encouraged to open there, I don't mean off licensees but quality, boutique type shops and higher end restaurants.
At the moment the only reason I have to shop there is Bradleys.

Sam Mac · 06-11-2014 3:28am

North Main Street is generally okay, but it is full of drunks, and people generally being very loud. Turns me off going down there. Bradleys is nice, but always found it strange how they don't have any CCTV whatsoever in that shop. Especially since they stock drink.

Herb Powell · 06-11-2014 3:40pm

the beer revolu wrote: »

I agree with the above post. I walk on North Main Street almost daily and find it fine. It is also home to Bradley's - Cork's best off licence and artisan food shop. The kind of hysterical advice posted here advising people to avoid the area only serves to degrade the area.
As more and more law abiding citizens abandon the streets, the scumbags move in.

North Main Street really is no worse than any other part of town. There is one vacant site but very few empty buildings. I suspect that the people lambasting the area and advising people to avoid the area are not really that familiar with the street.

People are delicate souls who love a bit of a drama.

As I've said before, people would want a serious bit of perspective, the city centre is far from being rough. I'm not saying ignore our problems, what I'm saying is our problems do not even exist to the extent that people make out.

Manach · 11-11-2014 3:14pm

My own recent experience, perhaps a one off, is that the begging is getting more aggressive. This happened in Grand Parade in daylight, where a refusal prompted a verbal assault and a literal in-your face demand for money.

rob316 · 18-11-2014 7:00pm

2 fellas begging outside Centra on Washington St. , literally screaming at people as they walk past who don't give them coin. The place is gone to pot :mad:

tinz18 · 18-11-2014 10:49pm

Noticed one of those guys there yday. Had my earphones in but if he had grabbed at me like some of the other passerbys I wouldn't have taken it too well. Aggressive begging is illegal is it not- I vaguely remember it being passed a few years ago?

54kroc · 18-11-2014 11:28pm

tinz18 wrote: »

Noticed one of those guys there yday. Had my earphones in but if he had grabbed at me like some of the other passerbys I wouldn't have taken it too well. Aggressive begging is illegal is it not- I vaguely remember it being passed a few years ago?

I thought all begging was illegal? At what point does it become aggressive? Just curious.

Ralf and Florian · 23-11-2014 1:06am

Theres this tapped young guy you see around town begging with a dog,I thought he was one of the roma at first but hes Irish.Was harrassing people outside that church behind the courthouse this evening.He followed one elderly man up the street virtualy sticking his plastic cup in his face.

run_Forrest_run · 23-11-2014 10:56pm

54kroc wrote: »

I thought all begging was illegal? At what point does it become aggressive? Just curious.

Begging isn't illegal, what gets beggers into trouble with the law is if they don't agree to move on when requested to by the Gardai.

Bacchus · 24-11-2014 10:35am

There appears to have been a sudden spike in people on the street begging this weekend. Granted I've not been through town much in the past couple of weekends but it seemed that there was a lot of people out begging compared to normal. Never seen it this bad. The cynic in me says it's a mix of the genuinely down and out and some opportunists hoping for some of the festival goodwill finding its way to their pockets. I've not seen anyone be aggressive though.

Rubberchikken · 24-11-2014 10:43am

maybe it's me, but i never notice any aggrressive behaviour from street people. i walk our dog around the city on monday nights while waiting for my daughter, and i feel safe and relaxed (as relaxed as i ever am;), and never see anything untoward.
maybe it needs to be specific times/people who have these things happen to them.

crk's a lovely city, real college city with a nice feel and it's not teeming with any kind of 'scum' or trouble. those things are everywhere if you go looking for them.

Saipanne · 24-11-2014 10:46am

Rubberchikken wrote: »

maybe it's me, but i never notice any aggrressive behaviour from street people. i walk our dog around the city on monday nights while waiting for my daughter, and i feel safe and relaxed (as relaxed as i ever am;), and never see anything untoward.
maybe it needs to be specific times/people who have these things happen to them.

crk's a lovely city, real college city with a nice feel and it's not teeming with any kind of 'scum' or trouble. those things are everywhere if you go looking for them.

At that time they probably have sufficient change for whatever fix they need.

The_Banker · 24-11-2014 6:27pm

Anyone get hassled for money in Douglas...?

I was going to the PTSB ATM in Douglas village about a week ago when a tall guy in his 20s, wearing a hoodie approached me looking for €2 for the bus.

He was agressive in the sense he didnt ask but demanded. "Gimme €2 for the bus will ya"..
Rather than stopping at the ATM I kept walking and could hear him saying the same to other people...

Nerdlingr · 24-11-2014 6:31pm

Bacchus wrote: »

There appears to have been a sudden spike in people on the street begging this weekend. Granted I've not been through town much in the past couple of weekends but it seemed that there was a lot of people out begging compared to normal. Never seen it this bad. The cynic in me says it's a mix of the genuinely down and out and some opportunists hoping for some of the festival goodwill finding its way to their pockets. I've not seen anyone be aggressive though.

Christmas market innit! More footfall = more money.
I used to give money to some beggars but now I dont know who's "real" and who isn't anymore.

whisky_galore · 16-12-2014 11:55am

What's with the large groups of people sleeping rough lately who clearly don't look homeless?

rob316 · 16-12-2014 12:07pm

Every corner you turn now in the evening there is someone begging it's hasn't been this bad in a long time. **** all is been done to combat it. Christmas is a breeding ground for this sort of stuff.

TheQuietFella · 16-12-2014 12:10pm

It's an on-going issue in every city & until the Gardaí or the people do something it will unfortunately continue.

Ralf and Florian · 17-12-2014 6:29pm

whisky_galore wrote: »

What's with the large groups of people sleeping rough lately who clearly don't look homeless?

Organised gangs of Roma beggars for the most part.

whisky_galore · 18-12-2014 9:01am

Ralf and Florian wrote: »

Organised gangs of Roma beggars for the most part.

They don't look like Roma either.

Sam Mac · 19-12-2014 2:32am

As a rule of thumb I just don't give money to any beggars. With all the organised begging rings around the place you can't be too sure who you are giving your hard-earned cash to. I despise begging as a whole anyway.

CorkyLFC · 19-12-2014 11:55am

I work in the City Centre, and the same people who come in with their wads of €50's are the same people who you will pass 2 or 3 hours later begging on the streets or bridges so I have given up on giving any begger my money.

I'd gladly give to the Share lads or the Simon Community any day

Blackie Grey · 20-12-2014 9:50am

As said earlier this is organised gangs of roma gangs-buddy is a guard told me this-a lot of them live in nice houses and spend the days begging hiding their shopping bags under blankets-I feel they should be deported and have no sympathy for these scam artists.

Ralf and Florian · 24-01-2015 11:16pm

That grey haired guy in his late 50s /early 60s who insults everyone he meets seems to have taken up residence on Oliver Plunket St ,seen him several times in the last couple of days doing his thing.

CorkyLFC · 28-01-2015 3:12pm

Ralf and Florian wrote: »

That grey haired guy in his late 50s /early 60s who insults everyone he meets seems to have taken up residence on Oliver Plunket St ,seen him several times in the last couple of days doing his thing.

Verbally racist aswell, had a right go at a foreign family today who were minding their own business

darkdubh · 28-01-2015 6:25pm

CorkyLFC wrote: »

Verbally racist aswell, had a right go at a foreign family today who were minding their own business

Have seen him in action a few times.He hates everyone,including probably himself.

Ralf and Florian · 15-03-2015 12:17am

This cheeky fecker tried to give me that money for the bus spiel when I was on my way home tonight but I knew what was coming so said I was in a hurry and kept walking.He shouted a load of ****e after me.Tallish fella,early 30s with dark hair and wearing a leather jacket.Had a non specific Irish accent,East coast maybe but not Dublin.

rob316 · 16-03-2015 10:44am

Its an absolute farce at this stage, I was in Tesco in Paul St over the weekend, as I was leaving there was a number of "homeless men" queuing to use the coin counting machine. This is the machine that takes about 12c in every €1.
My thought is what genuine homeless man would give up 12c in every €1?

Look at the clothes some of these people are wearing, they are decked out in a €100 tracksuit and €100 trainers.

Keep your money in your pocket people, and give to a registered legit charity not these scam artists.

Going Strong · 16-03-2015 11:11am

Ralf and Florian wrote: »

This cheeky fecker tried to give me that money for the bus spiel when I was on my way home tonight but I knew what was coming so said I was in a hurry and kept walking.He shouted a load of ****e after me.Tallish fella,early 30s with dark hair and wearing a leather jacket.Had a non specific Irish accent,East coast maybe but not Dublin.

Last week, by the GPO, there was a young guy giving a woman a hard time. I had my headphones on so didn't catch what was said but could tell by the body language. He'd given her some hard luck story as she was listening sympathetically but then shook her head when he put out his hand for money. He followed her up Pembroke Street being rather aggressive in manner and looked rather unhinged as he had a wild look on his face as he glared at everyone else on the street. As I passed downwind of him he smelled like he'd emptied an entire can of Lynx over himself. Tall, late teens or early twenties, sloppily dressed and with small red backpack.

the beer revolu · 16-03-2015 12:23pm

rob316 wrote: »

Its an absolute farce at this stage, I was in Tesco in Paul St over the weekend, as I was leaving there was a number of "homeless men" queuing to use the coin counting machine. This is the machine that takes about 12c in every €1.
My thought is what genuine homeless man would give up 12c in every €1?

Look at the clothes some of these people are wearing, they are decked out in a €100 tracksuit and €100 trainers.

Keep your money in your pocket people, and give to a registered legit charity not these scam artists.

Dealers don't take coins.
You'll often see beggars changing money in shops too, but I guess most shops won't do this for most beggars.

begging

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