Local businessman wants begging to be banned in Limerick city

A COUNCILLOR has urged the local authority to introduce a bye-law to ban begging on the streets of Limerick city.

Fine Gael’s Peter Doyle suggested the measure during a discussion over an upsurge in crime and anti-social behaviour across the urban area.

“You have to ask yourself why anyone would open a new retail premises in Limerick if customers are going to be harassed and put off from coming in from the suburbs,” said Cllr Doyle, who runs his own business.

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Members of Limerick’s metropolitan district unanimously backed a call from Cllr Joe Leddin to sit down with senior gardai in a bid to stamp out the “ongoing harassment of people and drug dealing on the streets”.

“The situation is deteriorating, and we cannot allow it to continue in its current guise,” he said.

His party colleague, Cllr Padraigh Reale backed the motion, and recalled a recent meeting he had with an elderly couple.

Based in Raheen, he said they like to visit the city centre several times a week.

“What this couple said to me is they are on the verge of changing their habits. They could very easily cross the road and go into their local gastro-bar, have their meal and drinks and walk across the road home. But they are trying to support the city. When our residents and communities are feeling intimidated, there is something wrong,” he added.

Social Democrats councillor Shane Hickey-O’Mara said sympathy needs to be extended to those who feel forced to beg.

“What we should be doing is asking why this is happening, what led these citizens to this and what is it that we’re doing so wrong as a society that this is so common.”

“People begging on the street is a symptom of a broken society,” he added.

Cllr Catherine Slattery, Finana Fail, revealed she and her sister were approached by the same woman on multiple occasions asking for money. She said she was aggressive.

“I get how people may be down on their luck and feel they have no option but to beg, but to get aggressive with people trying to bring revenue into the city is certainly not on,” said the City East member.

There was anger in the council chamber too due to the fact Joint Policing Committees, a regular forum where local politicians engage with senior gardai have not been taking place.

These are due to be replaced by what are known as Community Safety Partnerships.

Anne Rizzo, acting community safety officer at council, said due to a gap in the legislation to establish these, work cannot yet begin on setting these up.

However, Cllr Dan McSweeney said there had been briefings with gardai in county Limerick districts.