State urged not to axe funding for ex-prisoners project

A man who turned his back on a life of violent gang crime to help young offenders has warned the Government against cutting funding to projects which give ex-prisoners a second chance.

Allan Weaver, who began offending aged 12, spending several years behind bars in Scotland, was speaking at a conference yesterday for the 10th anniversary of the Cork Alliance Centre.

The centre has helped over 1,000 people go straight after being released from prison.