11 June 1998 Edition

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O'Toole urges anti-drugs campaign to continue

Larry O'Toole, who was shot with his son at a Communion ceremony in Ballymun last month, has praised the anti-drugs movement and urged people to continue their campaign. He was speaking at a crowded meeting in Darndale Community Hall on Monday night 8 June.

There was a standing ovation for the leading anti-drugs acitivist and Sinn Féin representative when he addressed the meeting. He was presented with a plaque by Cecil Johnson from the Coalition of Communities Against Drugs (COCAD) in recognition of his work.

On 23 May, the day after his release from hospital, Larry had atteneded a COCAD fundraising function in the Temple Theatre. Accepting the presentation Larry O'Toole said: ``I will never the forget the support for myself and for my family which was given by people in this community. Friends, neighbours, anti-drugs activists from Dublin North East and from across the city helped to sustain us at a very traumatic time.''

Turning to the anti-drugs campaign Larry O'Toole said: ``No form of intimidation over the years has succeeded in keeping people off the streets in their efforts to end the scourge of drugs. Despite attacks on anti-drugs activists the campaign has gone from strength to strength. Courageous people are working to defend their children from illness and death as a result of drug abuse. The presence of people here in Darndale shows that the campaign will go on until we have eliminated this blight on our communities.''


An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland