Elderly people are afraid to go to some shops in Drogheda to collect their pensions because of beggars outside, it has been claimed.
The issue was raised by a member of the Drogheda Dolls Group on their Facebook page.
She told the case of an 88-year-old woman from Yellowbatter who will not collect her pension at her local post office because she is terrified of the people outside begging.
The lady was paying a man €20 to collect the money for her but now he wants more cash.
The writer said she spoke to staff at the shop involved and they said they have called the gardai about the beggars in the past and sometimes they didn’t respond.
She also spoke to the gardai themselves who told her it was up to the shops to provide their own security to deal with beggars.
She stated: “I rang the gardai myself today and they said that when they do come out and move them (the beggars) on, they come back a few minutes later and the shop should get security themselves.”
The fearful elderly woman never married, or had a family and lives on her own. The writer did offer to walk her to the post office but she declined the offer.
She added: “What has Drogheda become when an old person won’t even collect their pension because of the fear of them begging?
“She’s terrified. I feel hopeless to help her but she doesn’t want my help. I am sure someone has an idea how to help this old lady.”
