Beggars behaving menacingly towards worshippers attending two churches in Killarney, Co. Kerry, have been warned their behaviour will not continue to be tolerated. Fr Kevin McNamara said that begging at Mass times has become more of a difficulty of late, with people going to and from St Mary’s Cathedral finding the doors blocked by people soliciting money.
He appealed to worshippers to refuse to give anything to beggars, who are mostly women and mostly non-nationals, who are congregating in rising numbers in the environs of the cathedral as this would only encourage the increase in begging.
Fr McNamara said beggars are "right on top of people and don’t give them a chance to get in and out", adding that he was especially concerned about elderly and vulnerable people being harassed going to church.
He said the soliciting of money had become “too pushy” for elderly people in the parish who have been frightened by it.
“The intimidating nature of what is going on, the way they are crowding around the door, is upsetting for the old and the vulnerable".
"Some elderly people said they felt they had to give them something but when they opened their purses they were told what kind of money to give,” Fr McNamara revealed.
The number of beggars has been growing and they are part of an organised racket, as they have been seen arriving by car or being dropped in groups.
He stressed that he was not against people begging per se but blocking people going in and out of the church was “just not acceptable".
The practice of beggars approaching people sitting in the church outside of Mass times was also "just not right," Fr McNamara continued.
While clergy were reluctant to use "heavy handed methods” or involve the Gardaí, the current situation could not continue.
"We don’t want to go down the road of the law with rules and regulations; we just want people to understand our situation".
He was not objecting to begging on the street outside the church where people had more freedom to choose whether they should give a donation, and organisations like the St Vincent De Paul were available to assist people in financial need.
Fr McNamara pointed out that the Church had always supported community-based projects to help needy people
The town’s Franciscan Friary has experienced a similar situation with worshippers having to pass beggars camped on the steps.
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(Source: CIN)