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23 October 1997 Edition

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Back issue: Anger in Ballyfermot

Anger swept through Dublin's Ballyfermot when the news broke of the arrest of two local anti-drug activists. The men were arrested by garda in early-morning raids last Monday 9 October.

Alan O'Hanlon, a member of the Ballyfermot Concerned Parents Against Drugs, and CPAD supporter Brian Quinn were taken from their homes at 8am under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act to Ballyfermot and Ronanstown Garda Barracks. Within hours local people staged a picket of the Department of Justice, with 30 CPAD members blocking Dublin city centre traffic for 15 minutes in protest at the arrests.

That evening, over 200 people took part in protests outside the two garda barracks that the men were held in. The pair were later released.

Ballyfermot CPAD activist Jimmy Delaney described the Garda action as ``a blatant abuse of citizens under the Offences Against the State Act'', and pointed out that the authorities have arrested nine CPAD members under Section 30 and released all without charge. ``It is clear that they are abusing the law to update their files on the Concerned Parents,'' he said.

An Phoblacht 22 October 1987


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