Kenneth O'Flynn
CORK City Councillor Kenneth O’Flynn has written to all managers of the shopping centres in Cork city centre and the surrounding suburbs asking them to remove gold for cash kisosk’s from the shopping centres “as a matter of civic duty to the city and its citizens”.
Cllr O’Flynn has singled out the gold for cash business as something that is not regulated and a possible haven for the handling of stolen property.
Cllr O’Flynn said, “At the moment there is no regulation on verifying the ownership of the gold.
“A person can walk into any one of these shops or kisosks and produce a handful of gold products without even being asked where the gold has come from, certification of ownership or any form of identification.”
The north side councillor believes there is a direct correlation between the trading of gold and the high levels of crime in the home.
“According to the recent CSO crime figures burglary and property related offences have increased by almost 8 per cent.
“From speaking to gardaí these thieves are targeting gold jewellery and mobile phones because of the fact you can hand in the items and receive instant cash with no questions asked.
“I have written to the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter and proposed that regulatory measures be introduced to tackle this, meanwhile I am seeking agreement with shopping centres throughout the city to refuse gold for cash outlets to operate in their premises.”
The Fianna Fail councillor concluded, “I outlined on many occasions the need for immediate legislation to be introduced. It is now long overdue.”
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