| Gardaí reject 'organised' begging claim |
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| Thursday, 02 October 2008 | |
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GARDAÍ in Dún Laoghaire have rejected a claim that some non Irish nationals begging in the town are part of an organised network. Last week, Cllr Mary Mitchell O’Connor (FG) called on the Government to introduce new legislation that would give gardaí renewed powers to deal with what she described as the growing problem of “orchestrated begging” in South Dublin. Cllr O’Connor said she was making the call after she had been contacted by a considerable number of residents and business people in Dún Laoghaire about the “emerging problem” in the area. She noted that gardaí were no longer able to arrest people under Section 3 of the Vagrancy Act for begging in public places. Last year a judge in the High Court ruled that the Vagrancy Act was unconstitutional and as a result gardaí can no longer employ the now defunct legislation to arrest beggars. Cllr O’Connor argued that as begging is no longer illegal, gardaí now have few powers to arrest those engaged in the practice except where it can be demonstrably proven that an offence has occurred under the Public Order Act. Concern "In some parts of the county it appears that begging is extremely well organised, with those involved appearing to work in 'shifts', which is understandably a major concern to local residents and businesses,” she said. “Where people are experiencing genuine difficulties there is an onus on the State to support them but the feedback I'm receiving is that there is a high degree of premeditation and opportunism involved in the new wave of begging that is emerging.” Backing up Cllr O’Connor’s claims, the vice chairperson of the Dún Laoghaire Business Association, Don McManus, said he believed much of the begging in the town was organised. “I cannot prove it but that is my opinion,” he said. “I cycle along the seafront and I noticed that they all arrive together on the DART. One day I saw them being transported by car and then they come and take up their position in the town.” Speaking to Southside People, Garda superintendent Martin Fitzgerald revealed that gardaí in Dún Laoghaire had arrested three Romanian nationals in conjunction with the Garda National Immigration Bureau last week. He said the three men, who are now facing deportation, had been involved in begging in the town. However, he added: “Our information would not reveal any pre-orchestrated or organised methodology being employed in Dún Laoghaire. “We are not following any specific line with regards to any organised crime element. We have spoken to the business community about what we can and cannot do regarding begging and we always act within the bounds of the legislation.” |
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