Begging on the Streets of Limerick City

djsim101

Hi lads, I was in town the other day and couldn't help notice the amount of people that are begging on our streets. On O'Connell St alone, their were 4 lads,starting from Bank of Ireland, spread out, all the way up to AIB Bank. I coudnt help notice a large guy was talking to each of them. I wonder are they running so kind of begging ring?

Can anything be done to stop this? I was told before by a few people that we shouldn't be giving money to these guys as all it does it feeds their drug problem in most cases

Couldn't help feeling sorry for the younger guy

Comhrá

If the story below from the Irish Independent is true, then it looks like it's the typical Irish response to an Irish problem.

Seems like the street beggars are here to stay - with the blessing of our laws.


"High Court ruling helps put beggars back on our streets"

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/high-court-ruling-helps-put-beggars-back-on-our-streets-29210883.html

Jofspring

The problem I think is realising who the genuine cases are that need help and the ones that are just out to make a few quid in some kind of an organised begging group.

FutureGuy

99% of them are either professional beggars or junkies/alcoholics.

Don't give any of them a cent.

Comhrá

Jofspring wrote: »

The problem I think is realising who the genuine cases are that need help and the ones that are just out to make a few quid in some kind of an organised begging group.

The thing is, even if people are genuinely totally impoverished, begging in the streets is not the way to seek help. Even in these straitened times, there are organisations like St. Vincent de Paul who can give some assistance and there are services which can advise etc.

Ireland is not Calcutta, no matter how hard the times are.

Kess73

A lot of organised begging going on.There is a group that turn up in the Greenpark centre for a couple of hours one day a week that are very organised.


They consist of three women and two men. The two men and one of the women generally sit in a car in the car park, but when one of the two women roaming the car park/front of stores starts following a person they get out and shadow them or join with the woman asking for money. They can be quite intimidating to an elderly person, especially an elderly person going to one of the shops on their own, as they keep pecking away at their targets and walk with them.

jonski

Kess73 wrote: »

A lot of organised begging going on.There is a group that turn up in the Greenpark centre for a couple of hours one day a week that are very organised.


They consist of three women and two men. The two men and one of the women generally sit in a car in the car park, but when one of the two women roaming the car park/front of stores starts following a person they get out and shadow them or join with the woman asking for money. They can be quite intimidating to an elderly person, especially an elderly person going to one of the shops on their own, as they keep pecking away at their targets and walk with them.

I haven't seen that and I shop there almost every day but I have seen one guy who has recently taken to standing outside Spar giving it the old " any change bud " . That kinda thing you are talking about would really annoy me though .

Kess73

jonski wrote: »

I haven't seen that and I shop there almost every day but I have seen one guy who has recently taken to standing outside Spar giving it the old " any change bud " . That kinda thing you are talking about would really annoy me though .

That guy is a local of sorts. Begs outside the Spar then heads into the Off Licence when he gets enough change. He also pops up outside the Post Office on Henry street on pension and Dole days.

The group I am talking about are five non nationals and there are only there for a few hours one day a week at most , and they have a car (dark coloured audi) with them.

Would be somewhat of a regular in that centre as my mother lives on the main road, and my gf lives in BCG.Would stop this group there at least once a fortnight and my mother and gf have spotted them more often than I.

ZombieBride

I had one young Irish woman approach me a few weeks ago, she was in her early 20s. She asked for change and I said I couldn't help her but I could buy her a sandwich and hot drink, she said no she was trying to get money together for a hostel, I told her I could ring the womens hostel and sort that out for her but she said no and walked on.

I never give money to beggars, or chuggars.

FutureGuy

ZombieBride wrote: »

I had one young Irish woman approach me a few weeks ago, she was in her early 20s. She asked for change and I said I couldn't help her but I could buy her a sandwich and hot drink, she said no she was trying to get money together for a hostel, I told her I could ring the womens hostel and sort that out for her but she said no and walked on.

I never give money to beggars, or chuggars.

I know the girl. No intention of spending that money on a hostel. Off to the offy with her two male mates.

Saw a woman giving 20 euro to one of them recently becaue he was a "poor misfortune". He went straight to the offlicence. Breaks my heart.

Kess73

ZombieBride wrote: »

I had one young Irish woman approach me a few weeks ago, she was in her early 20s. She asked for change and I said I couldn't help her but I could buy her a sandwich and hot drink, she said no she was trying to get money together for a hostel, I told her I could ring the womens hostel and sort that out for her but she said no and walked on.

I never give money to beggars, or chuggars.

Those feckers do my head in. At some point I am going to be the reason why some chuggar needs to get a clipboard removed from their rectum.

Comhrá

Kess73 wrote: »

Those feckers do my head in. At some point I am going to be the reason why some chuggar needs to get a clipboard removed from their rectum.

A clipboardectomy? I empathise with your sentiments Kess73

ZombieBride

Kess73 wrote: »

Those feckers do my head in. At some point I am going to be the reason why some chuggar needs to get a clipboard removed from their rectum.

My general response to them is to point at my headphones and say "I wear these to ignore you"

jonski

Kess73 wrote: »

Would be somewhat of a regular in that centre as my mother lives on the main road, and my gf lives in BCG.Would stop this group there at least once a fortnight and my mother and gf have spotted them more often than I.

LIAR ! , I am looking out all over the town for your fancy cars I would have noticed them there .

I would have seen those non nationals there before but I had not seen them in a good while .

Kess73

jonski wrote: »

LIAR ! , I am looking out all over the town for your fancy cars I would have noticed them there .

I would have seen those non nationals there before but I had not seen them in a good while .

I can safely say that I have never parked the SS or the mustang in the Greenpark centre. :P I either walk there from my mother's gaff or my GF's gaff or if I drive from my own place I use my day to day/work car.


Last time I saw the bunch of beggers I am talking about was last Wednesday.

The Sky

I always give them money. One time I was walking past a foreign man and he asked me could I buy him a sandwich, it was the first time somebody asked me this instead of change so I brought him to Chicken hut and got him a snack box and gave him the rest of the money! I always see it as I am in a position to help them and who am I to refuse them as I know what it's like to sleep rough.

djsim101

The Sky wrote: »

I always give them money. One time I was walking past a foreign man and he asked me could I buy him a sandwich, it was the first time somebody asked me this instead of change so I brought him to Chicken hut and got him a snack box and gave him the rest of the money! I always see it as I am in a position to help them and who am I to refuse them as I know what it's like to sleep rough.

Fair play to you Sky, but would you not think it would be better to give that money to lets say, St Vincent De Paul, or another local charity?

I am sure these guys in need can go to these type of organizations for help? (maybe I am wrong in this)

grenache

tippman1 wrote: »

If the story below from the Irish Independent is true, then it looks like it's the typical Irish response to an Irish problem.

Seems like the street beggars are here to stay - with the blessing of our laws.


"High Court ruling helps put beggars back on our streets"

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/high-court-ruling-helps-put-beggars-back-on-our-streets-29210883.html

That's absolutely insane and non sensical. Surely the burden should be on the beggar to prove that he/she does have a licence/permit to beg, and not the other way around. Only in Ireland. It seems like the criminals are making the laws.

Having worked in an offie in the city centre for a good few years, I know that all those scumbags begging on O'Connell St spend nearly all that money on drink. We had to bar a good few of them for stealing. Only incredibly stupid or naive people give these sorts change. They'd be better off throwing it in the bin.

SarahBeep!

There's a certain blonde girl I always see around town and Castletroy. Every time it's a different story. Today her husband tried to kill her and she was looking for money for a bus to cork. Last day I was at the bus stop she wanted a sup off my can of coke! Dafuq.
I constantly see her off her face on heroin. Probably a good thing, of she wasn't she'd probably recognise me every time she tapped me!

campo

I won't give money to a begger like others I would offer to buy them food or if it is a bad winter night and I am in town I would usually bring some extra scarfs and gloves and give them those

grenache

SarahBeep! wrote: »

There's a certain blonde girl I always see around town and Castletroy. Every time it's a different story. Today her husband tried to kill her and she was looking for money for a bus to cork. Last day I was at the bus stop she wanted a sup off my can of coke! Dafuq.
I constantly see her off her face on heroin. Probably a good thing, of she wasn't she'd probably recognise me every time she tapped me!

I would think that's this lovely individual

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/leader-local/limerick-mother-of-two-is-jailed-for-spate-of-theft-offences-1-3796212

Poxyshamrock

grenache wrote: »

I would think that's this lovely individual

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/leader-local/limerick-mother-of-two-is-jailed-for-spate-of-theft-offences-1-3796212

First person to enter my head too!

Pumpkinseeds

djsim101 wrote: »

Fair play to you Sky, but would you not think it would be better to give that money to lets say, St Vincent De Paul, or another local charity?

I am sure these guys in need can go to these type of organizations for help? (maybe I am wrong in this)

I'm not sure that there is a lot of help for homeless people in Limerick, I really don't know tbh. I remember seeing a programme last year about some ladies who were providing meals to the homeless in Limerick. They didn't have much cash to provide the service either.

Kess73

grenache wrote: »

I would think that's this lovely individual

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/leader-local/limerick-mother-of-two-is-jailed-for-spate-of-theft-offences-1-3796212

Had to laugh at this quote from that article.

“She is very deserving of a chance,” said Mr Devane

Deserves a chance now after racking up almost 100 convictions. Surely she has had over 90 chances already? Cannot understand the logic of a career criminal, and any with that many convictions is exactly that, not being put in prison for a long time when caught and convicted. Getting suspended sentences of sentences that last months rather than years are useless in deterring crime.

Hell even if a five or more year sentence did not change the person's outlook, at least it would be five years with one less criminal on the streets.

um7y1h83ge06nx

Solicitor John Devane said his client was a mother of two young children who has a drug problem

You would think being a mother of 2 children would motivate her to give up the crime and the drugs.

Also these concurrent sentences are nuts. If you are going to commit one theft you may as well commit several as the consequences will most likely be the same anyway. No wonder there are serial offenders on the streets.

grenache

Kess73 wrote: »

Had to laugh at this quote from that article.





Deserves a chance now after racking up almost 100 convictions. Surely she has had over 90 chances already? Cannot understand the logic of a career criminal, and any with that many convictions is exactly that, not being put in prison for a long time when caught and convicted. Getting suspended sentences of sentences that last months rather than years are useless in deterring crime.

Ah but sure she had a harsh upbringing! :rolleyes:

It has been my misfortune to have several run-ins with her through my job. Career criminal is a nice way of describing her, she's much worse than that. The most cunningly evil person I've laid eyes on. The court had her barred from the city centre, not that it made any difference. She was in there every day. The laws in this country are comical.

Only Devane would say she was worthy of another chance. I've come across him too. Lovely man.

Buckeye

djsim101 wrote: »

Can anything be done to stop this? I was told before by a few people that we shouldn't be giving money to these guys as all it does it feeds their drug problem in most cases

Couldn't help feeling sorry for the younger guy

For myself, I don't care what panhandlers spend the money on, whether it's food, a place to stay for the night, or drugs. If I have change I can spare, I give it or don't, and it's up to them what they spend it on. If someone has reached a point where she is begging on the street, I'm not going to begrudge her whatever brief moments of escape she chooses.

That said, when I was living in San Francisco there was a program that let people buy reduced-rate bus tokens and food tokens that panhandlers could use to get where they needed to be and to get something nutritious to eat at certain markets or restaurants. People who wanted to give, but didn't want to support drug addiction, could buy the tokens and keep them handy to give as they passed on the street.

Is this something we need here?

eclectichoney

Suspended coffees are a great concept - do any places do it in Limerick?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22267613?ocid=socialflow_facebook_newsmagazine

Mollywolly

eclectichoney wrote: »

Suspended coffees are a great concept - do any places do it in Limerick?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22267613?ocid=socialflow_facebook_newsmagazine

According to Focus Ireland's Facebook page, there are coffee shops around the country that do this, but none of them seem to be in Limerick.

Perfect opportunity for one of the coffee shop chains to get involved, don't you think

The Sky

Great idea!

delthedriver

Kess73 wrote: »

Had to laugh at this quote from that article.





Deserves a chance now after racking up almost 100 convictions. Surely she has had over 90 chances already? Cannot understand the logic of a career criminal, and any with that many convictions is exactly that, not being put in prison for a long time when caught and convicted. Getting suspended sentences of sentences that last months rather than years are useless in deterring crime.

Hell even if a five or more year sentence did not change the person's outlook, at least it would be five years with one less criminal on the streets.

Is Mr. Devine for real? Perhaps he just has a social conscience or wishes to be nominated as Patron Saint for Hopeless cases.

Someone with 100 convictions? Who is paying for all this wasted time in court?:rolleyes::)

William Bell

ZombieBride wrote: »

My general response to them is to point at my headphones and say "I wear these to ignore you"

@ZombieBride, this is good thinking, although I will just point to my headphones and smile maniacally.
Seriously though, I live in Australia. I have not seen any beggars here, not in Brisbane or Melbourne. I am planning a trip back to Limerick this summer, first time in 10 years and was anticipating a few 'tappers' looking for the price if a pint but my research on this topic leads me to believe organised begging is endemic. All I can say is Great! The reason I have not been back in 10 years is I am barely staying ahead here. The 3 or 4 grand that a trip home costs is very hard to come by. I'm not complaining, I made the decision to move to Aussie in the full knowledge that it's a long way from what WAS my home but no longer is. The last thing I want when I'm back is Romanians with the begging bowl out at every corner. I guess I'll just have to tolerate it.
Ireland. What a sad place it is these days.

Buckeye

William Bell wrote: »

@ZombieBride, this is good thinking, although I will just point to my headphones and smile maniacally.
Seriously though, I live in Australia. I have not seen any beggars here, not in Brisbane or Melbourne. I am planning a trip back to Limerick this summer, first time in 10 years and was anticipating a few 'tappers' looking for the price if a pint but my research on this topic leads me to believe organised begging is endemic. All I can say is Great! The reason I have not been back in 10 years is I am barely staying ahead here. The 3 or 4 grand that a trip home costs is very hard to come by. I'm not complaining, I made the decision to move to Aussie in the full knowledge that it's a long way from what WAS my home but no longer is. The last thing I want when I'm back is Romanians with the begging bowl out at every corner. I guess I'll just have to tolerate it.
Ireland. What a sad place it is these days.

It's not like you can't walk down O'Connell Street without being bothered - most days I don't see anyone out begging - but what I do see does look much more organized than three years ago. I don't give directly to panhandlers anymore, and just make donations to charities that support homeless women & families.

William Bell

Buckeye wrote: »

It's not like you can't walk down O'Connell Street without being bothered - most days I don't see anyone out begging

@Buckeye, just confirmed this talking to a friend in Limerick, he says he doesn't see much of it at the moment, maybe the weather is too bad for it at the moment.

Buckeye

William Bell wrote: »

@Buckeye, just confirmed this talking to a friend in Limerick, he says he doesn't see much of it at the moment, maybe the weather is too bad for it at the moment.

True, I did see a bit more of it in the summer than I did Oct-Dec.

Trouwe Ier

Well, more than ten years after the last post on this thread (it is now, 24/7/24), I certainly think that the city centre is far more menacing.

A work colleague of mine, who has the bulk of a masonry rest room was felled by two scrotes in Bedford Row a few weeks ago, after they asked him for money and that has really concentrated my mind.

I love travelling by train but the thought of walking out the exit of Colbert Station at any time of the day, let alone after dark is frightening as is the knowledge that there appears to be a "drug house" beside the adjacent 301/303/304A/306 bus stop.

Upper Henry Street, St. Alphonsus Street and O'Curry Street are virtually no-go areas and and if you stand still or are distracted by your phone for more than thirty seconds downtown and you will be tapped.

I do follow the Garda advice not to engage with street beggars and I have survived unscathed but I worry about the effect of this and other anti-social behaviour on "foot fall" and the viability of our city centre, which, since this thread has started, has seen an explosion in the number of tacky shops (phone repairs, vapes, coffee etc.).

What is it going to be like in another eleven years in 2035? I dread to think about it.

What

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122422035#Comment_122422035

There is an ongoing public consultation for "street performance and busker byelaws" in which submissions can be made online for free. Perhaps a suggestion could be made that these same rules should apply to beggars as they are in a roundabout way street performers with a very low performance level

On a serious note, however, beggars used to abide by a code that they would generally leave families with young children alone. This has ceased to exist in the last number of years it seems

Paddico

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122422035#Comment_122422035

Unscathed, frightening, survived ….. This is Limerick not the front line of Ukraine.

Way over the top.

Souness

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122425478#Comment_122425478

Have to agree, while the volume of beggars has increased in recent times, no part of the city centre is off limits. Saying Alphonsus and curry street are virtually no go areas is nuts, I walk through that area daily at all times of day and night and never an issue.

geotrig

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122426410#Comment_122426410

maybe "you're" the problem🤣

Spoiler Warning

only joking obvs !

boetstark

Ok I'm going to be called a snowflake or a coward or whatever. But I tell you limerick city is a sh#thole. Begging yes , businesses on cruises street operating a buzzer system yes.

A guy lying on footpath outside Dunnes henry street injecting drugs 5 minutes ago. Spitting distance to garda station but not a bother.

No way this would happen in many other city centres.

geotrig

You musntnt get out much? Limerick like a tranquil paradise compared to other places

Cookiemunster

He must never have been anywhere near the quays in Dublin!

Limericks issues are no different to any other city really. The problem is the lack of Guards. And that's not something that's in the power of the city to fix. Until the government employ the required amount of Guards, then 'beat' Gardai won't be walking the streets.

At least the new mayor has gotten them to have some presence in the city centre lately. Not enough, but an improvement.

boetstark

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122430619#Comment_122430619

I would safely bet that I have forgotten more places than you have ever visited. But keep the old head in the sand. Part of the problem

boetstark

I agree that the boardwalk in Dublin is vile, in addition to lots of upper o connell Street.

Still doesn't change the fact limerick is a very small city and this stuff going on within sight of a large garda station. Totally agree with you also that lack of policing allows this crap to happen.

Not a good look though. On a side point. I dropped a work colleague home to city centre Wednesday at approx 215 am. On O Curry street in middle of the road a gang of lads on electric scramblers. Must have been at least 9 or ten , dressed in black with balaclavas. And they weren't deliveroo drivers. No garda to be seen.

Souness

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122428009#Comment_122428009

Hadn't thought of that😂

Swiper the fox

there’s lots of tappers in Limerick but they’re completely harmless in my opinion, I’d have no concern walking near to Mcgarry house at any time, I live nearby and often do

chicorytip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122430776#Comment_122430776

Who would want to be a guard these days - especially a "beat" cop ? There may be some with a real vocation for police work but I think the reason so many relatively new recruits end up leaving the force is because they are incapable of dealing with the more difficult aspects of what is a very stressful job.

A tapper the other day came up to me and my mate asking for money, offered to escort us to the nearest ATM to get cash when we said we didn't have any on us - "you can afford it".

Then he started ranting about foreigners, how the government only helps them and doesn't care about people like him. How foreigners are getting everything and he's paying for it through his taxes.

I lost the plot at that point. I didn't raise my voice but I told him very frankly that first of all, he doesn't work and therefore he doesn't pay tax, and also mentioned that the foreigners have all got jobs so they're paying their fair share as it is. Then I told him he's not getting my money so don't bother asking, now fcuk off. He didn't say anything after that.

There's another guy who has been trying to get together enough money for the bus back to Tralee for a month or more!

Potential-Monke

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122435029#Comment_122435029

Not that they're not able, but its not worth it. I started a new job recently, alarm monitoring. Simple stuff. €14.50/hr starting. New Gardai are on that or slightly more. I gave yp on thr job when I was on 45k and it wasn't worth the hassle. Most I've heard who joined and left soon after said the same. And the most it'll go up to, after 19 years and never go up again regardless of how long you've left is just shy of 60k. Which soinds great, but it's not considering what one has to do. Most who leave get job that pays the same or more, with less stress and less danger.

Limsno1

I was in the city centre on Saturday for the 1st time in a couple of months and I saw 3 different pairs of Gardai on foot patrol and the place felt much safer than the last time I was in the centre. Is this a new tactic whereby the Gardai are going to be on foot patrol as opposed to the occasional drive by in patrol cars? Think a Gardai kiosk on a couple of corners in the city would make a huge difference, visible presence at all times . The sun was out and lots of people drinking and eating outside cafés and there was a grea buzz about the place. I did see one man in a wheelchair begging outside at the bottom of Bedford row and one of the Gardai moved him on and he moved about 20 yards until the Gardai were gone. He was doing no harm really...