Taskforce on begging and street crime lands 15 in court

A taskforce set up three weeks ago to target begging and street crime in Cork City centre led to 15 people appearing in court yesterday.

Judge Leo Malone imposed fines on several of them and warned those with previous begging convictions they faced the prospect of jail if they appeared again for begging offences.

“The begging situation is becoming unacceptable and, looking at the number of people doing it in Cork City, I realise that,” the judge said. “The Oireachtas has enacted legislation to deal with the issue. I am charged with upholding the law and uphold the law is what I have to do.”