More than 900 people gathered in Roscrea, Co Tipperary tonight to discuss the problems of drug dealing and youth suicide in the town.
*The devastating effects of drugs and anti-social behaviour in Roscrea has prompted the community to respond, determined to help addicts while ridding the town of dealers writes Kathryn Hayes.
Up to a thousand people turned out last night for a public meeting to tackle drug abuse in Roscrea in County Tipperary.
The meeting was organised by a local man - Derek Russell - who wants residents, gardai, local politcians and sports groups to work together against the problem.
*The devastating effects of drugs and anti-social behaviour in Roscrea has prompted the community to respond, determined to help addicts while ridding the town of dealers writes Kathryn Hayes.
A Tipperary community that has said no to the scourge of drugs is determined to help its addicts while ridding the town of drug dealers.
Concerns over an emerging drugs culture in Roscrea has rallied people from across the north Tipperary town and its hinterland.
Locals fear the devastating effects of drugs and the associated anti-social behaviour is destroying the historic market town where sadly a number of young people have died by suicide in recent years.
Some of these deaths are believed to be drug-related.
Among those who spoke at a recent public meeting — attended by more than 1,000 people — was a mother who had lost her son through suicide
“It would be nice if someone did something for us,” she said.
Some 1,150 people — almost one fifth the population of Roscrea — attended last Monday night’s public meeting at Coláiste Phobail to voice their concerns over what has been described as a “cancer” afflicting the town.
“What we call ‘our cancer’ has hit the town,” said local woman Marie Warrren. “Drugs are our cancer and this has hit the town big time in the last two years and we are not prepared to put up with it.”
One woman at the public meeting called for a strategic plan for the town, that would include employment and treatment for drug addicts.
“At the moment, some of them [drug addicts] have to hitch out of town to get their treatment,” said the speaker. “How easy it is for them to change their mind on the Templemore Road on a winter’s evening and come back to town.
“We need to be proactive in the community. We need to have a reactive strategy to deal with the drug dealers that are afflicting this town. These are not people that were dropped off on the Nenagh bypass. These are local people. They are people that our children went to school with. So it is very personal in our town, as they are locals.”
A similar meeting in Abbey Hall a week previously escalated into an impromptu march to the local garda station which brought the town to a standstill for an hour.
The next meeting is on August 18, and will focus on counselling and support services for drug addicts and those affected by drugs.
“We would like to extend an invitation to any support groups or organisations who feel they can be of help to us from any part of the country to attend our next meeting,” said Derek Russell, who is spearheading the campaign.
“These problems won’t be resolved overnight. We are probably still going to be having meetings this time next year but as long as we get the good people to stay with the campaign, that’s all I want.”
There was deathly silence at last Monday’s packed public meeting when local school teacher Tadhg Maher read out a letter on behalf of a mother who has been threatened at knifepoint by her 15-year-old drug addicted son, who has attempted suicide several times.
“I have been through hell and back for the past two years to get help for his addiction,” the woman wrote. “He stole from me and threatened me with a knife and a hammer for four hours for money. I have paid all his debts.”
Mr Russell described the letter as a story that a lot of people at the meeting could connect with.
Local Supt Bob Noonan admitted he had “limited resources” but insisted there were garda resources available such as plain-clothes officers operating in affected housing estates who have had success in relation to some of the people that are dealing in drugs. On Wednesday, the armed Regional Response Unit assisted local gardaí who carried out raids on two houses in Roscrea. Searches were also carried out in Thurles in Co Tipperary, and Birr in Co Offaly as part of the garda crackdown on the activities of drug dealers in the Midlands.
Two people were arrested in Roscrea for obstructing gardaí in the course of the searches but were later released without charge.
Hours after the raids hundreds of people spent the night searching for a 17-year-old man who was feared missing; however he turned up safely the following day.
There were also unofficial reports of a 14-year-old girl who had to be hospitalised after attempting to take her own life.
Local woman Eleanor Fairbrother said she attended last Monday’s meeting for her 12 grandchildren, as she doesn’t want them exposed to a drugs culture.
“The situation is very bad. When you have young kids killing themselves then it’s very bad,” she said.
Tensions in Roscrea over the worsening drugs problem were visible when a number of signs leading into the town were recently vandalised as part of a so-called ‘name and shame’ campaign.
However, those involved in the public meetings are strongly against any form of vigilantism.
Senior Garda sources say Wednesday’s raids were planned well in advance of the two public meetings.
However, the presence of the Regional Response Unit on the streets of Roscrea this week has undoubtedly reassured concerned residents of the commitment by the policing authorities to tackle the drugs crisis.
Heroin, amphetamine and cannabis with a combined estimated street value of €40,000 (pending analysis) was seized when uniformed gardaí and members of the Divisional Drugs Unit searched a house in Thurles on Wednesday and two people were arrested.
“These things aren’t going to be solved overnight and all the relevant authorities know that this is a long-haul effort but it’s better than trying to come up with a quick fix,” said Mr Russell. “But locals have been reassured by the garda activity this week and their commitment to helping us with our problem.”
---------Up to a thousand people turned out last night for a public meeting to tackle drug abuse in Roscrea in County Tipperary.
The meeting was organised by a local man - Derek Russell - who wants residents, gardai, local politcians and sports groups to work together against the problem.
It follows an increase in anti-social behaviour and drug related deaths in the town.
Derek Russell says the local people can do their part to stop drug dealing in Roscrea.
The meeting was organised by parents who are concerned about an increase in drug dealing in the area.
www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/roscrea-anti-drugs-meeting-draws-crowd-of-more-than-1-000-1.1880963
HELPLINES: Links:
www.drugfreeworld.org & www.drugs.ie & www.citywide.ie & www.spunout.ie &
www.drugscope.org.uk & www.teenline.ie & www.letsomeoneknow.ie & www.aware.ie &
www.3ts.ie & www.console.ie
It was attended by local gardaí, Health Service Executive representatives, teachers and youth workers.
www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/roscrea-anti-drugs-meeting-draws-crowd-of-more-than-1-000-1.1880963
HELPLINES: Links:
www.drugfreeworld.org & www.drugs.ie & www.citywide.ie & www.spunout.ie &
www.drugscope.org.uk & www.teenline.ie & www.letsomeoneknow.ie & www.aware.ie &
www.3ts.ie & www.console.ie
The organisers say they want to see an increased garda presence, along with a proper educational programme in schools to teach children about the dangers of drugs.
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Follow Joseph Anderson at: https://www.facebook.com/josephandersonyahoo.ie
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Follow Joseph Anderson at: https://www.facebook.com/josephandersonyahoo.ie
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