10 April 1997 Edition
Drug attacks
A well-known drug pusher in the north inner city who has been the subject of several marches over a seven month period is being accused of assaulting a number of anti-drug activists this week. Members of a local community anti-drug dealing patrol were attacked on Monday night 7 April by over a dozen men wielding baseball bats and iron bars.
Brendan Reilly was charged with the assault of one of the anti-drugs patrol members. He was granted bail despite Garda opposition.
Dublin Corporation are being praised by local people for taking swift action on Tuesday night in boarding up the flat Reilly lives in.
The man who was assaulted underwent an operation on his hand in the Mater Hospital on Wednesday.
Assaults by drug dealers on anti-drug activists have been increasing in recent weeks. Other than the stabbing to death of Des Whelan in Dolphin House on 1 April, two members of COCAD in Clondalkin were assaulted in a separate incident, while there have been attempts to intimidate anti-drug activists in Tallaght.
A meeting of over 300 people held in Killinarden, Tallaght, on Tuesday night, heard several calls for the Garda to direct their focus towards drug pushers rather than community anti-drug activists. The meeting was called by Killinarden Against Drugs in response to the `joy-riding' problems in the area. Sinn Féin's Dublin South West candidate Jack Crowe was the only political representative at the meeting.
Support!
The people of Gallanstown can rely on other Dublin areas to support them in taking on drug dealing. That was the message at a march and rally last Sunday, 8 April. Around 1500 people marched for one and a half hours through upper Ballyfermot and on to Gallanstown. COCAD organisers led a one minute silence at the rally for Des Whelan, the Dolphin House resident who was stabbed to death on 1 April. Many people believe Des Whelan was killed because he was an anti-drugs activist.
Sinn Féin Councillor Christy Burke, who's the Sinn Féin candidate in the Dublin Central constituency Gallanstown and Ballyfermot are now in, attended, along with TDs Tony Gregory and Joe Costello. The rally was addressed by Des Bonass of Dublin Trades Council, Cecil Johnson of Killinarden Community Council and Martina Kenna, Sinn Féin's Dublin South Central candidate.
Eastern Health Board accused
The Eastern Health Board has been accused of insulting the trust of the people of Dun Laoghaire in dispensing methadone to drug addicts from a local health clinic without informing local people first. Despite promises that it would not provide a service until agreement was reached with residents groups, the health board started the facility after a local GP who had been providing it retired. The Board had seven months notice of his retirement and there were angry words about it at a public meeting in Dun Laoghaire on Monday night. The health centre is used for mother and baby clinics.
Brendan Reilly was charged with the assault of one of the anti-drugs patrol members. He was granted bail despite Garda opposition.
Dublin Corporation are being praised by local people for taking swift action on Tuesday night in boarding up the flat Reilly lives in.
The man who was assaulted underwent an operation on his hand in the Mater Hospital on Wednesday.
Assaults by drug dealers on anti-drug activists have been increasing in recent weeks. Other than the stabbing to death of Des Whelan in Dolphin House on 1 April, two members of COCAD in Clondalkin were assaulted in a separate incident, while there have been attempts to intimidate anti-drug activists in Tallaght.
A meeting of over 300 people held in Killinarden, Tallaght, on Tuesday night, heard several calls for the Garda to direct their focus towards drug pushers rather than community anti-drug activists. The meeting was called by Killinarden Against Drugs in response to the `joy-riding' problems in the area. Sinn Féin's Dublin South West candidate Jack Crowe was the only political representative at the meeting.
Support!
The people of Gallanstown can rely on other Dublin areas to support them in taking on drug dealing. That was the message at a march and rally last Sunday, 8 April. Around 1500 people marched for one and a half hours through upper Ballyfermot and on to Gallanstown. COCAD organisers led a one minute silence at the rally for Des Whelan, the Dolphin House resident who was stabbed to death on 1 April. Many people believe Des Whelan was killed because he was an anti-drugs activist.
Sinn Féin Councillor Christy Burke, who's the Sinn Féin candidate in the Dublin Central constituency Gallanstown and Ballyfermot are now in, attended, along with TDs Tony Gregory and Joe Costello. The rally was addressed by Des Bonass of Dublin Trades Council, Cecil Johnson of Killinarden Community Council and Martina Kenna, Sinn Féin's Dublin South Central candidate.
Eastern Health Board accused
The Eastern Health Board has been accused of insulting the trust of the people of Dun Laoghaire in dispensing methadone to drug addicts from a local health clinic without informing local people first. Despite promises that it would not provide a service until agreement was reached with residents groups, the health board started the facility after a local GP who had been providing it retired. The Board had seven months notice of his retirement and there were angry words about it at a public meeting in Dun Laoghaire on Monday night. The health centre is used for mother and baby clinics.