Beggar with 12 convictions to avoid jail if he leaves the country

Judge suspends seven-week prison term if accused returns to Romania

Cork District Court was told the accused was obstructing pedestrians by begging. File picture: Larry Cummins

A Romanian national who has been convicted of begging on the streets in Ireland 12 times has been given a suspended jail term on condition that he leaves the country.

Constantin Borcoi, of no fixed address in Cork, was given a total jail term of seven weeks which Judge Mary Dorgan suspended on condition that he would leave Ireland.

The accused said his wife and five children were still living in Romania and that he intended to go back and not return to Ireland.

On that basis, the judge suspended the jail term imposed in respect of two counts of obstructing pedestrians in Cork city centre by engaging in begging.

The 45-year-old already had 10 previous convictions for begging on the streets.

At Cork District Court, Sergeant John Kelleher outlined the background to the two latest offences.

Garda Raz Ghetau was on beat patrol on St Patrick’s Street on November 21, 2023, when he observed the defendant sitting on the footpath obstructing pedestrians with a sign saying “Help me. I’m hungry.”

He was doing the same thing on March 7 this year on St Patrick’s Street when Garda Emer McCarthy encountered him.

Solicitor, Eddie Burke, who represented the accused on free legal aid, said Borcoi was pleading guilty to the offences and was anxious to return to Romania.

“He has taken the appropriate steps to arrange his flight. He will return to Romania and not come back to Ireland,” Mr Burke said.

Judge Dorgan said: “I wish him well on his return to Romania.”