We have a right not to be harassed by beggars

BEGGING on Irish streets was decriminalised by the Supreme Court in March. I have since noticed that the sheer quantum and aggressiveness of begging has increased tremendously in the past number of months, especially in the form of verbal abuse and harassment of smokers outside pubs.

In a modern, vibrant economy, with more or less full employment, I can only assume that the proliferation of beggars on our streets stems from the fact that these individuals know that, for minimum effort, they can make more than the average industrial wage.

I am tired of the politically correct brigade claiming we must protect these people’s rights to ‘express themselves’ and their right to ‘freedom of speech’.