Serving Cork for 120 years
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Edition No: 35932
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I was pregnant — unaware that I had cancer
INSIDE
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Essential guide for the Mature Student — never too late to learn
Shoplifting: We’re cuffed
Gardaí say hands tied by legislation
Yes to new mayors and chains CORK County Council yesterday voted in favour of commissioning eight new mayoral chains, writes RONAN BAGNALL. The move will create eight ‘mini mayors’ to represent each of the electoral districts in the county. Following the abolition of town councils last year, eight new municipal districts were created to cover local issues all across the county. A chairperson was elected to oversee meetings of these districts, but county councillors have now decided that this chairperson should fulfill a
THERE has been a surge in shoplifting in Cork city but gardaí feel that their hands are tied when it comes to prevention.
mayoral-style role in the locality. Each chairperson will be given a new mayoral chain to wear at functions and events, with the chains expected to cost the council €700 each. Those in favour of commissioning the chains argued that they would help raise the profile of the municipal districts while those against them said they were waste of money and a barrier to meeting people. In the end, councillors voted by 24 to 19 to go ahead with the commissioning of eight new chains. ■ Continued on Page 2.
€50,000 bogus welfare claim AN ANGOLAN national who got refugee status to live in Ireland claimed over €50,000 in social welfare to which he was not entitled be-
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cause he was working at the time, Cork District Court heard yesterday. ■ See Page 4 for full story.
Shoplifting surge: Gardaí frustrated.
The business community is battling to curb an increase in crime as shoplifting figures jumped by 27% this year, and gardaí have hit out at data protection legislation that prevents them from making shop owners aware when prolific shoplifters are in their area. 490 thefts have occurred in Cork stores in the past three months, up from 385 in the same period last year, a number that Chief Superintendent Michael Finn has described as “very significant.” The majority of thefts are high volume and low value and gardaí complain that they are limited in dealing with potential crimes by legislation.
■ Audrey Ellard Walsh Tony Davis, Crime Prevention Officer, said: “There is a deficiency in the law. “We know exactly who are the prolific shoplifters but we can’t actually share that information with the shopkeepers. If someone comes in and robs one store we know who it is but we can’t go to the other store and tell them. “It would be fantastic if I could go to all the stores and say ‘stop them at the door, don’t let them in’ but the legislation isn’t there for us to do that within the data protection act, which is a big stumbling block.” Chief Superintendent Finn is hopeful that dialogue on such issues will enable change. ■ Continued on Page 2.