Local Beggars

There are a couple of beggars who hang around outside the shops, pharmacies and garages in the Artaine and Raheny area of Dublin 5. Yesterday, I bumped into another one outside the Topaz in Ballymun.

On the face of it they don’t seem to be exactly living rough, but just hanging around scrounging money off people, passive-aggressively harassing people into parting with their cash. In general, I’ve no major issue with beggars and would regularly offer any odds I have on me. There's one punk who wouldn't even bother to say thanks the first time i gave him anything, so he never got another penny from me.

But on numerous occasions I’ve heard them shouting after people (usually female) “THANK YOU!” as they walk past them without a response. It never really dawned on me until recently how intimidating it could be, when my GF and her mates were discussing going to different shops when they saw these lads hanging around outside, late at night.

I’ve said it to the people in the shops a number of times and they’ve all stated that they cannot do anything about it; when they ring the guards they are told its not illegal to sit on the ground outside a shop and there’s nothing can be done without a crime being committed. If they try to move them on, there’s usually trouble to be had which exceeds their pay grade. So they do nothing.

A couple of nights ago, I went to a petrol station in Artaine and this fella was sitting outside the door smoking rollies and flicking the butts away onto the forecourt. When I pointed out the danger he just told me to “mind your own business”. The bloke behind the till wouldn’t even acknowledge how dangerous it is.

I’ve emailed the head office to see what they have to say, but just wondering what people think of this? Does it discourage you from using certain shops?

L1011

Can be a very aggressive one outside either Spar or Centra on St Pappins Road/Ballymun Road junction (usually Spar). If I see him I go to the other shop instead. Full on sarcastic comments shouted if you ignore him etc.

Someone won a court case against our old anti begging laws and the new ones only cover the really severe types like crowding someone at an ATM so nothing is enforceble basically.

Birneybau

Becoming very common in D.8/D.12 lately.

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich

I really wish they'd do something about it. You're tripping over beggars in the city centre these days. I work off Grafton st for the last 4 years and it's the same professional beggars in this area. They are either Roma, traveller women, or heroin junkies. I had a friend here from England last week and was surprised at the amount of homeless. I've lived in the UK and various other countries and never saw anywhere as bad for begging.

uch

There were 3 on the Seán Heuston Bride at lunch our today, all with signs, so no English being spoken, the bridge is about 30 yards in length so it must be profitable, the amount of them at Heuston station almost every day is unreal

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich

like who actually gives these obvious pro beggers money? are they stupid? the only reason Roma etc beg is because people keep giving them money!

5rtytry56

L1011 wrote: »

court case against our old anti begging laws and the new ones only cover the really severe types like crowding someone at an ATM so nothing is enforceble basically.

^^THIS.

And the fact that I was in Nassau Street few days ago. Beggar in a sleeping bag calls out while middle aged North American tourist couple pass him by. They gave him some money.

:c

georgina toadbum

I'm finding they are getting way more aggressive. I was going into Spar the other day and on the way in one asked for change. I said I had none and he said 'well you can give me some on your way out'. I felt like I had to justify the fact that I don't carry change and use my card for everything.

Ciaran_B

Birneybau wrote: »

Becoming very common in D.8/D.12 lately.

Where are they in D 12? I've not seen any in Crumlin except for one outside the petrol station up near the Ashleaf.

Birneybau

Ciaran_B wrote: »

Where are they in D 12? I've not seen any in Crumlin except for one outside the petrol station up near the Ashleaf.

There's one at Maxol on Crumlin Road/Barn now. Crumlin Shopping Centre as well.

Vojera

I've stopped going to the Eurospar in Northwood in the evenings now because of aggressive beggars. Not worth the hassle.

Gavin "shels"

Birneybau wrote: »

There's one at Maxol on Crumlin Road/Barn now.

Chap who sits at the hatch after hours? Been there years at this stage.

I had an aggressive one (who I think had just gotten food from Portlaoise Homeless at Central Bank) on Dame St just after 9pm on Saturday... chap followed me and my girlfriend before being told to swiftly "get the **** and stop following us" only to be followed up with a snide remark.

hmmm

Plenty of brazen professional beggars around the city centre. It's an occupation for them - on the one hand its almost comical when they pull a brand new mobile phone out of their rags, but it is infuriating seeing them taking advantage of people with good intentions when there is real need elsewhere.

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RebelButtMunch

People, who don't look homeless (ok, I'm gonna get stick for that i.e they are not looking destitute) but who just hang around the shop with the 'got a spare euro mate'.

FFS that annoys me. They literally are looking for money to go in and buy cans.

Gavin "shels"

Slightly away from beggars but similar topic - two junkies sitting at the bottom of the stairwell to "Tian Du Hairdressing Centre" at Boylesports on Westmoreland St openingly cooking heroin and about to inject just as the guards pulled up... 6.40pm on a Tuesday evening!

RebelButtMunch

Gavin "shels" wrote: »

Slightly away from beggars but similar topic - two junkies sitting at the bottom of the stairwell to "Tian Du Hairdressing Centre" at Boylesports on Westmoreland St openingly cooking heroin and about to inject just as the guards pulled up... 6.40pm on a Tuesday evening!

Jaysus. That's rotten. Are there injection clinics in Dublin?

L1011

None yet. Should be some this year

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich

I really can't see heroin addicts using those centres much, I doubt they have much fate in any state provided services, and the Garda will probably have their eye on the centres, addicts don't want to be watched even more than they already are.
I cycle past the Amiens st clinic every day, for years now, and I recognise most of the same addicts that hang around. Due to starting a new job I turn onto Seville place now instead of going straight down Amiens st. I noticed today 2 of the addicts I always see coming out of one of the gafs on Seville place around the corner from the clinic. So at least it's dead handy for them!

RebelButtMunch

I'd agree. I'm not sure why the addicts would bother going to a clinic when they could be just doing it down any lane anywhere.

missyb01

There is a local shop near the malahide roundabout beside AIB bank. This particular beggar sat outside the shop but was beside the ATM. He would ask for change and if you said no or u didn’t have any, he said sure u can go into the shop and get some. I remember him saying to me that “ah come on you don’t even have a Euro on you or change in your car” he was dressed in very good clothes and the latest runners. He was soo loud I used think it was a tactic to embarrass people into giving him money. He put me off going to that shop.

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich

Shop ‘n’ go has beggars now? Lol, so much for progress, when I was buying rizlas and 10 blue in there 25 years ago you’d honestly never see the like.

Sultan of Bling

There does be one outside kilnamangh sc at the trolley bay annoying you when you get a trolley and when you're putting it back.

He wears a nice pair of Nikes and you often see him tapping away on his iPhone.

decky1

again it comes down to society being too soft, where are the guards who are supposed to be on patrol so the ordinary people can go about their business without having to woory daily about these scruffy c##ts.

RebelButtMunch

decky1 wrote: »

again it comes down to society being too soft, where are the guards who are supposed to be on patrol so the ordinary people can go about their business without having to woory daily about these scruffy c##ts.

It's worse than that. Where's the society morals that makes this type of thing acceptable.

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich

Just back from walking around town on lunch break. They are all over the place. All of them either Roma or just normal looking blokes sat on the ground. I guess it's easy money for them.
Where are the posters saying it's not as bad as Barcelona etc? It definitely is the worst place for begging I've seen in Europe. I was just in Central America and saw none of this, actually not one beggar in Panama City or San Jose, Costa Rica.

Vojera

RebelButtMunch wrote: »

I'd agree. I'm not sure why the addicts would bother going to a clinic when they could be just doing it down any lane anywhere.

Clean needles and facilities, someone watching you to reduce the chance of fatal overdose, optional referral to other health services.

But whether those things are actually attractive to the average addict, I don't know

RebelButtMunch

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich wrote: »

Just back from walking around town on lunch break. They are all over the place. All of them either Roma or just normal looking blokes sat on the ground. I guess it's easy money for them.
Where are the posters saying it's not as bad as Barcelona etc? It definitely is the worst place for begging I've seen in Europe. I was just in Central America and saw none of this, actually not one beggar in Panama City or San Jose, Costa Rica.

The whole, give a quid thing to charity even annoys the sh!te out of me.

It's a sorry state of affairs when its seemingly ok for kids or young adults to take time off to stand on grafton street to collect coppers for well deserving charities. You'd think that this country could take care of the sick and elderly without all the bucket chuggers having to get out there.

We'd be better off voting for someone who will make a difference than throwing 50c into a bucket. /utopia

RebelButtMunch

Vojera wrote: »

Clean needles and facilities, someone watching you to reduce the chance of fatal overdose, optional referral to other health services.

But whether those things are actually attractive to the average addict, I don't know

That's it, anyone who's shooting up in a doorway on westmoreland st, isn't going to bother with the niceties of those facilities.

PlaneSpeeking

Anyone know why the doorway at Heuston seems to be layabout central ???

RebelButtMunch

The local area there has a plethora of services for homeless and substance abusers. Bow lane accomodation, stevens hospital. There's a clinic opposite heuston. There's shelters on benburb street, and the courts.

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich

There is ZERO police presence in Dublin. Absolutely none. It really is disgraceful.

Squatter

I found this online, so can't vouch for it, but I assume that it's kosher:-

"Under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 2011 a person who begs in an aggressive, intimidating or aggressive manner is guilty of an offence. A person found guilty of such an offence is liable on summary conviction to a class E fine and/or up to one month in prison.

The Act provides that where someone is begging near certain places such as an ATM, a night safe, a vending machine or a shop entrance the Gardaí have the powers to direct them to leave the area. Failure to do as directed by a Garda is an offence with a class E fine on summary conviction. The Act also makes it an offence to organise or direct begging by another person. On summary conviction you are liable to a class A fine and/or up to 12 months in prison."


Also: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/begging-crackdown-law-comes-into-force-26645647.html

Looks like the GS aren't bothering to enforce this legislation, which is tough on the small shops that are losing business due to beggars.

Squatter

Squatter wrote: »

Looks like the GS aren't bothering to enforce this legislation, which is tough on the small shops that are losing business due to beggars.

Ah here, there will be online outrage if the cops get into the game of hassling beggars.

Generally they are a nuisance around the city centre and I have no idea how the roma come half way across europe to beg here, but they are not violent or intimidating.
There would have to be a widescale crackdown to get the message to them all to shift and the cops wont get any thanks for it.

The GS probably has enough to be doing with more serious crimes.

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich

Topgear on Dave wrote: »

Ah here, there will be online outrage if the cops get into the game of hassling beggars.

Generally they are a nuisance around the city centre and I have no idea how the roma come half way across europe to beg here, but they are not violent or intimidating.
There would have to be a widescale crackdown to get the message to them all to shift and the cops wont get any thanks for it.

The GS probably has enough to be doing with more serious crimes.

But why do we have zero regard for the aesthetics of the city? Junkies and beggars everywhere. It's not nice. Seriously most of these beggars are pro-beggars who have houses etc. You see gangs of Roma going into places on the NCR after their begging shift has finished. There are one or two men that look like they've been sleeping rough for decades that beg around Camden st. My heart really bleeds for them and I help them out sometimes. But most of these beggars are junkies pretending to read books or Roma.

Sultan of Bling

Squatter wrote:

Looks like the GS aren't bothering to enforce this legislation, which is tough on the small shops that are losing business due to beggars.

Personally I feel that the only way we can reduce this is for people to not give them money. I appreciate some people can be intimidated but if people don't cave in to them, it just won't be worth their while doing it.

As for the roma gangs, I would love for AGS to round them up and put them on a plane back to where they came from but as other posters said they have better things to be doing.

However i would dare say if they solved the roma problem, people would get more satisfaction from this than they would if they put the kinahan's away.

decky1

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich wrote: »

Just back from walking around town on lunch break. They are all over the place. All of them either Roma or just normal looking blokes sat on the ground. I guess it's easy money for them.
Where are the posters saying it's not as bad as Barcelona etc? It definitely is the worst place for begging I've seen in Europe. I was just in Central America and saw none of this, actually not one beggar in Panama City or San Jose, Costa Rica.

central America their out in the desert ---with a hole in their heads,

DaveyDave

I don't hand out change to any of them. Sick of seeing them all pals with each other smoking and drinking cans wearing their Air Max. I regularly see them outside the Park Rite on Drury St swapping places.

Surprised they aren't all down by that pathetic clinic down on the quays.

Someone mentioned Barcelona, I didn't see any homeless in Barcelona or Paris either. I was just saying to the GF the other day I'd love to know what they're doing differently. They also have a tourist tax on hotels so the streets are all really clean. Dublin is such a shíthole in comparison.

Besides the gypsy's at the Eiffel tower with their fake disability donation sheet, they're all Working together and leave together after the police move them on, scum the lot of them.

Try_harder

Barcelona is more pick pocketing than begging.

Begging isnt strictly illegal- they have to be harassing or intimidating people.

RebelButtMunch

Try_harder wrote: »

Barcelona is more pick pocketing than begging.

Begging isnt strictly illegal- they have to be harassing or intimidating people.

Yeah, I think they'll only get moved on if they are annoying people at paypoints, like the luas machines etc

RebelButtMunch

We are victims of our own conscience.
If everybody immediately stopped giving to beggars and charities, the issue would be forced and maybe some change would happen.

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich

who actually gives Roma beggars money? I was cycling to work this morning and from Pearse St Dart station, all the way to Baggot Bridge, there was a Roma beggar every 100m or so.
It's so obviously choreographed and fake, so who's stupid enough to give them money? We can't really complain too much if we're enabling them. What do these people actually want out of life? Do they not want to work or have they zero aspirations? Are there no Government agencies reaching out to them to see what it is they want and what we can do for them, or help them in any way to integrate? It's like they're from another planet.
Anyone remember the Roma guy who used to pretend to shiver on the street with no shoes on? lol, dear oh dear...

PlaneSpeeking

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich wrote: »

who actually gives Roma beggars money? I was cycling to work this morning and from Pearse St Dart station, all the way to Baggot Bridge, there was a Roma beggar every 100m or so.
It's so obviously choreographed and fake, so who's stupid enough to give them money? We can't really complain too much if we're enabling them. What do these people actually want out of life? Do they not want to work or have they zero aspirations? Are there no Government agencies reaching out to them to see what it is they want and what we can do for them, or help them in any way to integrate? It's like they're from another planet.
Anyone remember the Roma guy who used to pretend to shiver on the street with no shoes on? lol, dear oh dear...

You ever see up by Parliament Street the silver Merc that drops 3/4 Roma "beggars" off each morning ?

Hilarious. No more a beggar than I am Miss Ireland.

Ciaran_B

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich wrote: »

who actually gives Roma beggars money? I was cycling to work this morning and from Pearse St Dart station, all the way to Baggot Bridge, there was a Roma beggar every 100m or so.
It's so obviously choreographed and fake, so who's stupid enough to give them money? We can't really complain too much if we're enabling them. What do these people actually want out of life? Do they not want to work or have they zero aspirations? Are there no Government agencies reaching out to them to see what it is they want and what we can do for them, or help them in any way to integrate? It's like they're from another planet.
Anyone remember the Roma guy who used to pretend to shiver on the street with no shoes on? lol, dear oh dear...

On the foot bridge that leads into the IFSC there's a Roma guy there. Been there for years. Every time I cross that bridge - which is 10 times a week - someone is dropping a coin in his cup. It might be only a few cent but he's definitely making enough to get by.

Fairly horrible existence, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Everlong1

$hifty wrote: »

In general, I’ve no major issue with beggars and would regularly offer any odds I have on me.

Congratulations. You're perpetuating the problem you're posting about. If you're concerned about homelessness why not donate to a recognised charity instead of encouraging street begging by rewarding it? I'd love to know how many of these individuals are genuinely homeless and how many are just shysters who can't be ars*d to work for a living because it's easier to milk the welfare system for all it's worth and then top that up with some easy money from gullible passers by.

Misguided1

The other night - I had a girl (late teens) at our doorstep in Raheny begging for money. Irish, didn't appear drunk or on anything, put her had out and asked for money. I simply said no and shut the door. To some - I'll be the worst in the world but if I choose to donate to charity, I do it through a registered charity. I live in a pretty mature neighbourhood so I'm sure some of my neighbours would have given her something. This will only ensure she comes back time and time again. The last time I remember anyone knocking on the door begging was members of our travelling community, years ago.

PlaneSpeeking

Ciaran_B wrote: »

On the foot bridge that leads into the IFSC there's a Roma guy there. Been there for years. Every time I cross that bridge - which is 10 times a week - someone is dropping a coin in his cup. It might be only a few cent but he's definitely making enough to get by.

Fairly horrible existence, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

That's his day job, you've no idea what kind of accommodation he goes home to. Likely better than yours or mine given he has no taxes to pay and gets everything free.

Everlong1

Interesting how a majority of posters on this thread so far seem to agree that begging is now totally out of hand in Dublin and that the Gardai and/or the legal system in general is doing nothing to deter this problem. We'll have a general election in this country this year. How many of you are prepared to raise this with the local TD who calls to your house looking for your vote ? Let's not forget that these vermin are responsible for worse than just begging. Remember the unfortunate Spanish tourist who was raped by a scumb*g she met on the Boardwalk ? I guarantee that pig will turn out to have 80+ previous convictions if he's ever brought to court. That unfortunate woman's ordeal is a direct result of our tolerance for corruption and lawlessness in this country.

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich

Ciaran_B wrote: »

On the foot bridge that leads into the IFSC there's a Roma guy there. Been there for years. Every time I cross that bridge - which is 10 times a week - someone is dropping a coin in his cup. It might be only a few cent but he's definitely making enough to get by.

Fairly horrible existence, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Well from what I've seen they seem to be housed, and I'm pretty sure they're eligible for our Social Welfare. So they're wishing it upon themselves really, and we are enabling it.

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich

Everlong1 wrote: »

Interesting how a majority of posters on this thread so far seem to agree that begging is now totally out of hand in Dublin and that the Gardai and/or the legal system in general is doing nothing to deter this problem. We'll have a general election in this country this year. How many of you are prepared to raise this with the local TD who calls to your house looking for your vote ? Let's not forget that these vermin are responsible for worse than just begging. Remember the unfortunate Spanish tourist who was raped by a scumb*g she met on the Boardwalk ? I guarantee that pig will turn out to have 80+ previous convictions if he's ever brought to court. That unfortunate woman's ordeal is a direct result of our tolerance for corruption and lawlessness in this country.

I raise all sorts with my local TDs. I emailed all of them about the MUP on alcohol for example. They don't care. There's a general election yes, but they're all as bad as each other. I mean what's the diff between FF and FG really?
Who are you supposed to vote for? Independents? They're just idiots. Gino Kenny for Taoiseach?

PlaneSpeeking

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich wrote: »

I raise all sorts with my local TDs. I emailed all of them about the MUP on alcohol for example. They don't care. There's a general election yes, but they're all as bad as each other. I mean what's the diff between FF and FG really?
Who are you supposed to vote for? Independents? They're just idiots. Gino Kenny for Taoiseach?

"b-b-but he saved little Ava Twomey's life doncha know ???"

(I know someone who voted for him and thinks he should be in Government).