Romanian man told to leave Ireland or face prison for begging in Cork City

The court heard the accused was pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity and was anxious to leave the country as his mother was seriously ill back home in Romania

The court heard that it was the fourth time the man was found begging in the city.

A 47-year-old Romanian national who was found begging in Cork City for the fourth time was given a jail sentence that was suspended on condition that he would leave the country within one month.

When first charged, he replied to the garda who prosecuted him for obstructing pedestrians by begging: “I was singing.” Judge Mary Dorgan was told by the prosecution that what the accused man was doing did not constitute singing on the occasion.