11 June 1998 Edition
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.''
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.''