Dublin traders bid to reduce street begging

Shop owners in Dublin are trying to reduce the amount of street begging by offering in-store dedicated donation points.

A group representing 2,500 businesses in the capital said problematic street begging, which is already illegal, rose 79% in the last three months of the year.

Dublin’s Business Improvement District (Bid) claimed it was concerned that money given directly to people in need on the streets would not make much difference to their lives.

Bid CEO Richard Guiney said it also gave a perception that the city is not safe.

The Bid campaign will see 40 donation boxes in selected shops with all money going to Tiglin, which rehabilitates addicts.

Niall Murphy, a former homeless drug user who completed the scheme, said his life began a second time with support from the charity in 2009.

He said: “Alcohol and heroin had me at death’s door many times and I couldn’t find a way out.

“My hope was lost. Suicidal thoughts and drug overdoses were a constant battle.

“I thank God that today I’m free and I’m no longer the person I used to be.”

Mr Murphy is now at college studying for a diploma, and engaged to be married.

Bid warned about levels of organised begging and also supports calls for methadone clinics and treatment centres to be moved out of the city centre.

It identified restaurants, bars and side streets in the Grafton St, Stephen’s Green, and South William St areas as begging blackspots, along with ATMs, parking meters and old, mainly defunct telephone boxes which addicts also use when injecting drugs.