DRUGS SCOURGE HIGHLIGHTED

‘Drugs play a huge part in our society and everyone of us has to take responsibility for that’ - that was the message that emerged at a special drugs awareness night in Castlelyons Community Centre, writes Samantha Cahill.

Well over 150 people, young and old, sat for over an hour and a half gripped by accounts of drug abuse and their affects on the community. The majority of those in attendance were aware of drugs in our society, but admitted their naivety when it came to recognizing the drugs, and their symptoms in their own community.

Garda Andrew Geary likened the need for drugs as similar to a person’s craving for chocolate, just as addictive, just as hard to give up and just as easily available. In fact chocolate targets the same part of the brain as drugs do.

“There is a reason why the first drug is always free, apparently there is nothing like the first ‘hit’. All this talk of people dying from poor quality drugs is bull. People are taking too much, or administering the drugs incorrectly. We saw the consequences of that in Waterford recently,” Garda Geary told the meeting.

He confirmed that the majority of drugs in the area are being sourced from nearby counties such as Limerick and Waterford, as well as the city. Every drug used or paid for has a link nationally.

“We all read and hear about gangland crime, it is all linked, the person using locally has paid for that bullet or that gun. We all have a part to play and that is why the gardai need your help, your information and co operation”.

He continued to speak of other towns he has worked in before his time in Fermoy, towns that would be deemed as much rougher and tougher, but despite this fact he found the locals much more co operative in terms of giving information, compared to Fermoy.

“You have a great community spirit around here, the volunteer aspect is second to none, but there seems to be a barrier in terms of information filtering through to the gardai. We all know what happened in Rathcormac and the gardai could not have achieved the results without the public’s help, but why did it take a death for the information to come? That information was already there before the incident happened and it is a sad indictment on our society”, Garda Geary said.

48 searches were carried out in the Rathcormac/Fermoy/Castlelyons area following the death of Padraig O’Keeffe, as a result of information given by the public. There were a number of subsequent arrests and many are still pending conviction. Section 33 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 77-84 refers to those caught with a small amount of illegal drugs, often deemed for personal use. Section 15 refers to sale or supply whilst 15A applies to those caught with €13,000 or more, under the statute a 10 year jail term should apply.

"In this country the criminal is dealt with more care than the victim, it is very hard to stay motivated in our job. The law can be very frustrating to deal with, you must have 100% proof in order to get a conviction. That is why we need all the help we can get”, Garda Geary added.

Fermoy has a full time drugs unit in operation with 2 members of the force particularly dedicated to the cause since earlier this year. Already this week three drug dealers in the local area were caught as a result of random searches and surveillance work.

“We had student gardai hiding in ditches watching out for hours gathering evidence. Every week we will do hundreds of searches because that is what it takes. We can do it on the street or in the station", the garda warned.

Castlelyons residents were shocked to hear that dealers and drug users were operating in their community but once again Garda Geary asked them to open their eyes and if need be make the call, if not to the Fermoy gardai then to a confidential garda helpline, “You need to look at your young people, if they are drinking at 13, then they will be doing cannabis at 15 and it is always harder drugs from there”.

“Look at who your kids are hanging around with and if you know something then be brave enough to say no. You are not their best friend, you are their parents at the end of the day.”

He advised parents to watch out for tell tale signs such as a red rash on the front of the neck for early users of cocaine, a sudden change in attitude and paranoia. Also to be aware of the paraphernalia, grinders, tins, rizla papers and kitchen knives with burn marks on them.

“When you look around it is right there in front of you. It always comes down to the company they keep”, student Garda Aoife O’Connell told the crowd.

At this point all of those attending were invited to view some samples of drugs and associated paraphernalia. People were astounded by the cost of such a small amount just as much as the familiarity of some of it.

The meeting concluded with Garda Geary appealing to the parents to contact the parents’ associations in the schools of their children to call for these talks to be introduced to the schools. Information is not a cure but it can bring about a solution. You can contact your local garda station at 025 82100. Confidential lines: 1800 250 025 and 1800 666 111.

Martina Munnelly has been appointed as the Fermoy Community Outreach Drugs worker and her office is based at the Fermoy Resource Centre on MacCurtain Street. All her services are totally independent of the gardai and strictly confidential. Call 32109 or 086 6096874.

 

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