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Ireland to impose first new begging penalties in 160 years
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by Blue Crush | November 25, 2008 at 08:33 am
256 views | 15 Recommendations | 4 comments
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Dublin is cracking down on beggars, for the first time since the Potato famine. It's a shame that a few bad apples spoil the bunch, in any kind of situation.
DUBLIN, Ireland - Ireland plans to impose tough new penalties on beggars for the first time since the Potato Famine 160 years ago.
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern says the measure is necessary because of the growth of professional begging gangs who harass pedestrians. Children often are involved. Ahern says a bill will make begging punishable by a maximum Ç700 (US$900) fine or a month in prison.
Irish police lost their legal authority to arrest beggars after the nation's second-highest court declared the previous law unconstitutional.
The High Court ruled two years ago that the 1847 Vagrancy Act was too vague and it conflicted with the 1937 Irish Constitution's clauses on freedom of expression and communication. Britain passed the 1847 Act to combat begging as famine swept Ireland.
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Blue Crush
Toronto, Canada
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (4)
at 08:39 on November 25th, 2008
How will that comply with the constitution and the EU?
I think that is going over the top, We are no longer feudal in Europe or is it coming back?
at 08:54 on November 25th, 2008
Do you have any idea what are you writing/commenting about?
The root of the probem is that these gangs coming from eastern europe, mainly from Romania..WITH budget airlines..not on foot, not on buses..with airplane..TO BEG. So I think Ireland has the right to act against these people.
at 16:45 on November 25th, 2008
Finally, a big solution for a big problem. I'm tired of all this beggars in perfect conditions to work, and I don't understand why I have to feel pity for them when they have chosen to be in that situation.
I rather feel pity for the hard worker who has lost his/her job due to this economic crisis than a person who chose drugs as a way of living.
I don't know what is wrong with this world, but sometimes looks like the one who does the right things don't have rights to anything.
I'm totally agree with this action and I wish this get spread out to other countries... hold it, don't mention any, hold it
at 07:00 on November 27th, 2008
If in America, GM, Ford, AIG and City Bank can pan handle the United States Congress then we the people should be able to pan handle each other.