Non-homeless people just begging for the craic.

An Claidheamh · 05-07-2015 08:12PM #1

I've always known that many of the people begging in Dublin City centre are not homeless but even have more money than I do!

You have the scangers just coming up and asking for a euro,
the other ones who tourists think are there to help them work the Luas machines,
the scanger kids who go around asking for cigarettes.

Today, I was waiting for a tram, when a mid 30s woman with a kid holding her hand, probably looking around clothes shops, got my attention and then showed me an empty cup with a coin in it. After me she just half heartedly went to a couple of others, and then cool as you like walked into food shop. She wasn't even hardly an aggressive beggar at all. Not even trying.

I was amazed at how well dressed she was. I would have assumed she was a Brazilian or Spanish tourist were it not for the fact she wanted money.

I can't get over how easy it is for both scangers and gypsies, who are of equal or more wealth than the people they ask, to swan around shaking a cup at people.

Who gives them money these days?

Tell me this, would it be better to relieve these people of their cups of change if they harrass you in future.

And before the legal eagles claim I would be put in prison, if there were actually gardai around there would be no begging like this and if they illegally got their cup of change through (illegal) begging, then they cannot get the police to demand it back because it was ill gotten. Right?

Anyone have any experience of people literally just chancing their arm begging?

And should aggressive beggars (not homeless people!) have their cups taken away?

Has anyone ever done it like shopkeepers to stop begging outside their shops?

kneemos · 05-07-2015 08:27PM

Getting rich begging may be a bit of a myth.
Though during the boom here and in London during the eighties there was stories of beggers changing their clothes and hopping in their cars to drive home.True or not I don't know.

darkpagandeath · 05-07-2015 08:53PM

I never give money to someone with more expensive shoes/runners on than I have on.

05-07-2015 09:07PM

Saw some video on FB there the other day, I won't link here (for obvious reasons) it was some girl confronting some beggar lad in Tallaght who was begging in the Village, she kept saying to him how was his car that she see's him driving, and he lived local to her so why was he begging?

He kept saying he couldn't speak English so she told him she was going to record him every time that she saw him begging, I wonder was it true or was it a mistaken identity type thing....

Pumpkinseeds · 05-07-2015 09:13PM

We were in Dublin for a gig last month, I haven't been there for years and I hadn't realised the extent of homelessness. I saw an elderly homeless man scavenging in a bin for food and an elderly woman sitting in a door way, as well as a couple of people sleeping rough by the flower stalls. Maybe I'm naive, but I hadn't realised it was that bad, apart from all of the younger people sleeping rough at night and begging during the day.

Kwiecien · 05-07-2015 09:51PM

Reminds me of a night out a few years ago. Myself and the husband walking home late at night when a young fella approached us.

Chap asked himself "spare fag?" Himself replies "No, I didn't buy any spare ones".

I hate being accosted in the street. Don't get me started on fcukin chuggers!

lickme · 05-07-2015 09:53PM

its even worse when there crying in the cold on a bridge with a blanket around them. Go get a job.

the groutch · 05-07-2015 09:59PM

had a guy a few years ago ask me for €2 to buy a coffee, he was wear a suit FFS!

Jesus Wept · 05-07-2015 10:08PM

the groutch wrote: »

had a guy a few years ago ask me for €2 to buy a coffee, he was wear a suit FFS!

Putting in the effort at least, should have rewarded that imo

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo · 05-07-2015 10:18PM

A homeless/drunk old guy asked me for money earlier and didn't put effort in at all. He just said 'money', and didn't even look up.

I got a "I've already drunk enough today" vibe off him and he was merely going through the motions. I didn't feel he needed any money there and then. No doubt tomorrow morning just before the offie opens he'll need money but he'd defo want to up his game from todays performance. He'd want to start selling just how much he needs this money and adding jazz hands and maybe a smile wouldn't go astray either.

I was less than impressed with him to say the least.

Old Perry · 05-07-2015 10:30PM

I think the immigrants coming from severe poverty in the east have a very different view of it than us westerners. they are shocked at how much money people here have , how flippant some people can be, and recognise very soon that some people dont value money the same way they might. A euro, 2euro or even 20 euro means very little to some people tbf. so whether they are well off or not they do it because they can, because begging doesnt hold the same stigma where they come from, because it would be silly in their minds to turn down what is essentially money for nothing.

Strumms · 05-07-2015 10:36PM

Agressive begging is rife in Dublin and i hate it... i always just square off to them and they **** off quick enough with an insult or two muttered under their breath as they walk away.. always junkie scumbags never the hard up genuine types...

The cheekiest of which i encountered in The Oak pub on Dame St a few weeks back.. i had left a fiver and some loose change on the bar as one does and out of the blue this yoke comes out of nowhere.. off his face.. beeny hat and sleeping bag wrapped around him.. big bloke as it happens and right in my face... "give me money for a hostel... i replied very politley in the negative he went to grab the money on the counter.. i stood up between me and the money.. he squared up and uttered a load of abuse into my face " so you **** you wont help me out " ? No i wont accept you harassing me and getting in my face and support your drug habbit now **** off or ill drop you where youn stand... i was shaking after in fairness i was prepared for the situation to become physical and it was quite a suprise for that to happen inside in a licenced premises...

On another note i have a relative working with homless and down on theor luck folk with the Franciscans in Church St.. feeding and clothing them and what not.. they do great work incidently and deserve great support but she tells all sorts of stories and one involved a gang of romanians getting out of a relatively new bmw.. well dressed in looking for handouts.. toilitries.. food .. clothes etc... the ran them but kept coming back gradually more agressive however they have a good relationship with the local guards and they made sure they dissapeared from the center..

Gatling · 05-07-2015 11:01PM

Fieldog wrote: »

Saw some video on FB there the other day, I won't link here (for obvious reasons) it was some girl confronting some beggar lad in Tallaght who was begging in the Village, she kept saying to him how was his car that she see's him driving, and he lived local to her so why was he begging?

He kept saying he couldn't speak English so she told him she was going to record him every time that she saw him begging, I wonder was it true or was it a mistaken identity type thing....

He's there most days and when it closes he walks to a nearby apartment complex.

An Claidheamh · 05-07-2015 11:05PM

lickme wrote: »

its even worse when there crying in the cold on a bridge with a blanket around them. Go get a job.

Thing is, we're actually talking about chancers lickme, a la the title and Op.

An Claidheamh · 05-07-2015 11:09PM

Fieldog wrote: »

Saw some video on FB there the other day, I won't link here (for obvious reasons) it was some girl confronting some beggar lad in Tallaght who was begging in the Village, she kept saying to him how was his car that she see's him driving, and he lived local to her so why was he begging?

He kept saying he couldn't speak English so she told him she was going to record him every time that she saw him begging, I wonder was it true or was it a mistaken identity type thing....

What I wish I did (or will do) is put my hand in my pocket and then take it out and give them the finger.

There's actually a few round the Square Tallaght who sit and beg ... after collecting welfare.

The kerb on your way to the Square from the Luas stop, there's always one.

Again who the hell is still giving these people money?!

Strumms · 05-07-2015 11:21PM

Does anybody know the story behind the guy outside Fallon & Byrne on Exchequer St ? He is always very polite and you would hear people stop and chat with him and he sounds pretty well spoken and with it.. no obvious signs of substance abuse... he has been there some years however although he cant be more then late 30s but he just looks really ****ing bad and worse every time i pass him.. as would be expected from years living rough i know but.. i dunno just always wondered about him..

John_Rambo · 05-07-2015 11:26PM

Lots of chancers begging in Dublin, there's also lots of mentally ill people, drug addicts, alcoholics. A lot of the drug users and alcoholics have dreadful mental health issues along with their abuse issues. Some would be second or third generation drug or heavy booze addicts along with a history of child abuse. For a lot of them it's the last resort, some of them are desperate, some of them are very down, some are belligerent and rude. There's a shocking amount of rural older men destroyed by the downturn that are just to far gone with booze and legal drugs to get work. A lot of them were labourers on sites.

I worked on Baggot st. for a while and there was a decent enough looking fella that was hanging around. When I say decent looking, he was as clean as he possibly could be, his clothes were respectable, but aged and falling apart. He was about 55 or so, always made eye contact and give a nervous hello. Turns out he was trying to work up the courage to ask me for money. When he did, he was shockingly embarrassed and very upset. I bought him food and he was incredibly appreciative. I had lunch with him beside the canal and he gave me a short history, but he was very shameful and embarrassed. He was from the midlands, broke up with the family and was living rough and was a chronic alcoholic. I guess he just wanted to get away from me after I gave him something. I'd slyly give him a fiver every now and then and he'd just give me a nod and a few wordless mouths of appreciation.

Last time I saw him he was necking a can of cider with tears streaming down his face, I was on my way home from a work night out. Never forgot that and always wondered where he ended up.

Simon2015 · 05-07-2015 11:39PM

Dublin seems to have more Junkies than other city in Europe.

Panthro · 05-07-2015 11:43PM

If someone puts a cup with cash in it under your nose, I say we bring in a law that allows us to take a few quid and say thanks.

foggy_lad · 05-07-2015 11:46PM

All these people are more than adequately catered for by social welfare/mental health/homeless services so I say

GIVE THEM NOTHING!

I know of scumbags that live around Cork St and Meath St who used to go begging for bottles of gas from the St Vincent de Paul, they would then bring the bottles of gas to the local shop and get most of the cost back from the dirty scumbag owner! they used to use that money to buy booze or hash. Give them NOTHING!

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime · 05-07-2015 11:49PM

Sure most folk might remember the guy with the rabbit and dog that's always begging on henry Street ?

Well he has a house himself in west dublin (possibly ballyfermot) hence why you never see him sleeping rough in town.

Used to work dublin city a lot and still do and you don't see a lot of this "beggers" at night but you do see a few usuals sleeping rough like the couple on nassue Street and the bloke at trailfinders on Dawson street.... these i genuinely feel bad for

endacl · 05-07-2015 11:51PM

I remember in the 90s, I was a student in the College of Music on Chatham Row. There used to be two lads, late 20s, who'd put in a 5 day week, 9-5. They'd be in Cafe Mocha (remember that? One of dublin's first fancy cafés? Pricey?) for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I'd often see them out for pints around rathmines at the weekend.

mikemac1 · 05-07-2015 11:54PM

Had an English guy approach me outside Connolly Station and tell me a long story of his life to date.

At the end asked for the money to buy a train ticket to Belfast. I don't know the price but I guess its around 25 euro

I'm not alone, he was mentioned in Dublin forum on boards!

John_Rambo · 05-07-2015 11:57PM

foggy_lad wrote: »

All these people are more than adequately catered for by social welfare/mental health/homeless services so I say

Are you sure about that?

foggy_lad wrote: »

GIVE THEM NOTHING!

Nice sig.

"CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME"

irishlad12345 · 05-07-2015 11:57PM

i usually come across a group of homeless men when i was doing a course in dublin.i know their genuinely homeless because i seen them during no matter what the weather is every Tuesday i would buy the four of them a cup of tea each and a box of tobacco to share between them atleast that way i knew the weren't spending my money on booze or drugs think its a better way to deal with them imo

foggy_lad · 06-07-2015 12:07AM

John_Rambo wrote: »

Are you sure about that?

Nice sig.

"CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME"

I often drop a brown envelope into the local SVdP office but never give to anyone on the street because you don't know they are genuine or are they out to rob you?

I remember giving that guy that died a tenner on Abbey st one day a few months before he died, just because he looked so close to death and it was so cold. I would always try to help someone that looks so close to death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJtwW-PBzRc

An Claidheamh · 06-07-2015 12:18AM

John_Rambo wrote: »

Lots of chancers begging in Dublin, there's also lots of mentally ill people, drug addicts, alcoholics. A lot of the drug users and alcoholics have dreadful mental health issues along with their abuse issues. Some would be second or third generation drug or heavy booze addicts along with a history of child abuse. For a lot of them it's the last resort, some of them are desperate, some of them are very down, some are belligerent and rude. There's a shocking amount of rural older men destroyed by the downturn that are just to far gone with booze and legal drugs to get work. A lot of them were labourers on sites.

I worked on Baggot st. for a while and there was a decent enough looking fella that was hanging around. When I say decent looking, he was as clean as he possibly could be, his clothes were respectable, but aged and falling apart. He was about 55 or so, always made eye contact and give a nervous hello. Turns out he was trying to work up the courage to ask me for money. When he did, he was shockingly embarrassed and very upset. I bought him food and he was incredibly appreciative. I had lunch with him beside the canal and he gave me a short history, but he was very shameful and embarrassed. He was from the midlands, broke up with the family and was living rough and was a chronic alcoholic. I guess he just wanted to get away from me after I gave him something. I'd slyly give him a fiver every now and then and he'd just give me a nod and a few wordless mouths of appreciation.

Last time I saw him he was necking a can of cider with tears streaming down his face, I was on my way home from a work night out. Never forgot that and always wondered where he ended up.

Funny I think around Baggot st and Merrion square there are genuine homeless.

An Claidheamh · 06-07-2015 12:25AM

Panthro wrote: »

If someone puts a cup with cash in it under your nose, I say we bring in a law that allows us to take a few quid and say thanks.

I don't think we need a law.

Thing is when you're walking on a footpath and you try to avoid a Roma gypsy, and then they make a beeline towards you, as they think you're a soft target, shaking their cup... Surprise them, take it off them and walk off or dump it.

They have no right to it, and there are no gardai.

If everyone did this, problem will soon be solved.

Again I must re-iterate I was shocked by the gall of this women just wanting some extra money off me to shop.

And do understand the difficulties of the real homeless.

(I think a lot of people are fooled by that guy with the rabbit!)

dubscottie · 06-07-2015 12:32AM

Was there not someone from the Herald or TV3 did something on begging a few years back. Got over €200 in one day IIRC..

It is a massive problem though. Headed into town late on in the afternoon (Sunday) and was only there 30 mins to grab something and every 5 mins someone was looking for something. "change", Spare smoke" etc..

And if you say no god help you.. The abuse..

Always used to laugh at the fact the "big shoe" (big issue) sellers in Edinburgh had £100 pairs of runners and I could not afford them when I was working full time, earning decent money and still living at home.

hytrogen · 06-07-2015 12:38AM

Try giving a begger the change receipt from your bus journey & expect foul language & a flimsy fist coming your direction...
True story! I thought I was being charitable & didn't have the time to cash in a few shrapnel

shane9689 · 06-07-2015 12:39AM

aaaand this is why i hate dublin and will never live there

Non-homeless people just begging for the craic.

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