Dublin: 30 People Arrested In Garda Drug Raids Across The North-Inner- City: *UPDATED

Gardaí from Store Street (pictured) Bridewell and Mountjoy Garda Stations were involved

Thirty people have been arrested in a major garda operation targeting the sale and supply of heroin, cocaine and other controlled drugs in Dublin city.

The operation, codenamed Tempest, follows a six-month covert operation aimed at identifying people involved in the sale and supply of the drugs.
*Local residents have scored a victory against drug dealers after information they provided to gardaí led to a major operation resulting in the overall arrest of 45 people.

It is the first large-scale investigation stemming from a new community policing initiative running in Dublin’s north inner city. The programme is set to be replicated across the capital and possibly the country.

The small areas’ policing programme has so far involved face-to-face interviews with 8,000 residents by community gardaí.

Information provided by local people, in addition to concerns from their political representatives, were taken and analysed by gardaí.

The operation, code-named Tempest, involved a six-month covert investigation aimed at identifying people involved in the sale of heroin, cocaine, and other illegal drugs.

Gardaí from three local stations — Store Street, Bridewell, and Mountjoy — worked closely with the Garda National Drugs Unit.

The GNDU Test Purchase Unit assisted local gardaí in targeting street dealers, involving the purchase of drugs from them by undercover officers.

“This operation is being led out by the community policing gardaí attached to the North Central Division and is a direct response to community concerns identified during the door-to-door engagement by the community gardaí since January of this year,” said Chief Supt Pat Leahy, the divisional officer and brainchild of the community policing initiative.

“At this point in the operation, 46 searches have been conducted and 30 persons have been arrested.”

Gardaí expect the operation will result in almost 100 charges connected with the sale of drugs against 45 people. Chief Supt Leahy said the accused will be brought before the district court tomorrow.

More than 100 gardaí took part in yesterday’s operation which involved the assistance of the elite Emergency Response Unit, the Garda Air Support Unit, the Garda Dog Unit as well as the GNDU.

Chief Supt Leahy said the aim of such lengthy operations was to provide a “long-term outcome” to problems. He said that the assistant commissioner for Dublin, John Twomey, has signalled “ready to go” with expanding the community policing system across the city.

The chief superintendent said any decision to roll it out nationally was one for acting commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan but, on a personal basis, he could see no reason why not.

Yesterday’s arrests are in addition to 55 arrests conducted under Operation Spire in the north inner city.

Gardaí said it was prompted by feedback from residents who engaged with community gardaí implementing the small areas community policy initiative in the north inner city.

The operation is expected to result in almost 100 charges connected with drugs sale and supply offences involving 45 individuals in the area.

Gardaí from the Bridewell, Mountjoy and Store Street Garda stations worked closely with members of the Garda National Drugs Unit with a view to gathering evidence against drug suppliers in the local communities.

Searches were conducted across the north inner city over recent days and suspects have been arrested and charged. 

They are to appear in court on Thursday morning.

Operation Tempest is ongoing, with more than 100 gardaí involved, including officers from the Garda National Drugs Unit, the Emergency Response Unit, the Garda Air Support Unit and the Garda Dog Unit.

Links to - HELPLINES:
www.drugfreeworld.org & www.drugs.ie & www.citywide.ie & www.drugscope.org.uk &
www.spunout.ie & www.teenline.ie 

Chief Superintendent Patrick Leahy said: "This Operation is being led out by the Community Policing Gardaí attached to the North Central Division and is a direct response to community concerns identified during the door-to-door engagement by the Community Gardaí since January of this year.

"To date more the 8,000 residents of the north inner city have been interviewed by Community Gardai in an effort to provide a more community focused customer centred approach to policing in the area."

Clondalkin, Dublin: Baby-Faced Psychopathic Killer Is New Gangland Enforcer

Gardai have identified a new psychopathic killer on Ireland's gangland scene who riddled a criminal victim with bullets from a machine gun after breaking his teeth in with a hammer in a grotesque torture session.

The baby-faced thug cannot be named for legal reasons but the Herald can reveal that 
the so-called 'Machine Gun Kid' is from the Clondalkin area 
of west Dublin.
And officers hope to press murder charges against him in relation to one of the most savage murders in recent years.

Sources have revealed that the man, who is in his early 20s, has links to exiled gangster John Gilligan, who fled the country last March.
It is believed that young thug is actively "renting" a machine gun out for hire to other gangs.

Sources say that gardai have established that the Clondalkin "baby face" and a Dublin accomplice drove from the capital to another location in Ireland to carry out a gruesome torture and machine gun murder linked to the drugs trade.

Dublin: Heroin Addicts Should Have Mobile Injecting Clinics Says Fr Peter McVerry: *UPDATED

One of Dublin's most prominent activists for the homeless says mobile injecting clinics could be the answer to tackling drug abuse on Dublin's streets.

www.independent.ie/irish-news/calls-for-task-force-to-tackle-city-drugs-scourge-30497747.html 

Fr Peter McVerry was responding to calls from the city's Lord Mayor for a new "task force" involving all organisations who work with the homeless or drug addicts.

INFO: HELPLINES: Links:   www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/heroin &

www.drugfreeworld.org & www.drugscope.org.uk & www.drugs.ie & www.citywide.ie 

Fr McVerry says he welcomes the Lord Mayor's comments, but he said the State need to take a new approach, and mobile clinics could be part of the solution.

He said: "In many cities you have mobile injecting clinics where people who use heroin can go with medical personnel. There are no needles hanging around the streets.

LINKS TO RELATED ARTICLES:
www.independent.ie/irish-news/mockie-mavericks-helped-break-up-notorious-crime-family-30497745.html &

www.independent.ie/irish-news/secret-garda-unit-posing-as-addicts-helps-put-3000-dealers-behind-bars-30497744.html 

"We also need to invest in treatment programmes, we have approximately 35 detox beds in this country for 20,000 heroin users and that's an absolute disgrace."
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Heroin clinic 'reduces drug use'

The heroin clinic scheme has been running for about two years Initial results from a London pilot scheme where addicts inject themselves with heroin in a clinic suggest it has reduced drug use and crime. Clinics in Brighton and Darlington also form part of the trial. The injecting clinics, intended for hardened heroin addicts for whom conventional treatment has failed, have operated for about two years. The scheme, which has so far cost £2.5m, is funded by both the Home Office and the Department of Health. During the trial, a third of addicts are using heroin substitute methadone orally and a third will inject methadone under supervision. The remaining third, observed by nurses, are injecting themselves with diamorphine - unadulterated heroin - imported from Switzerland and provided by the clinic. Some 150 users will take part in the trial overall.  The reduction in crime is not perfect but is a great deal better for them and crucially a great deal better for society  Professor John Strang National Addiction Centre Behind scenes at clinic Final results will not be known for another year but, in London, doctors and nursing staff say drug use has fallen significantly. They also say the lives of those on the scheme have stabilised because they are not buying from street dealers and getting involved in crime. Trial leader Professor John Strang, of the National Addiction Centre, based at London's Institute of Psychiatry, told BBC News that about 40% of users had "quit their involvement with the street scene completely". "Of those who have continued, which obviously is a disappointment, it goes down from every day to about four days per month," he added. "Their crimes, for example, have gone from 40 a month to perhaps four crimes per month. "The reduction in crime is not perfect but is a great deal better for them and crucially a great deal better for society." People on the trial also attend regular counselling sessions and regular appointments with their GP. 'Better relationships' BBC correspondent Danny Shaw said initial results suggested the experiment was having a profound effect on hardened heroin addicts. Many were leading much more stable lives and were enjoying better family relationships because they were no longer in and out of prison, our correspondent added. He said that, although these were very early days, there had been a dramatic effect on the lives of people for whom heroin had been a daily part of their lives for 20 or 30 years. The cost of the treatment, including providing heroin, is between £9,000 and £15,000 per patient - about three times as much as a year's course of methadone. Last year, Howard Roberts, the deputy chief constable of Nottinghamshire, said heroin should be prescribed to drug addicts to curb crime. And earlier this year the number of people treated for heroin addiction in Scotland reached record levels, with about 21,000 people said to be using heroin substitute methadone - 10% more than previously thought. Similar heroin injection schemes in Holland and Switzerland have reported some users turning away from crime. -----------

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Roscrea, Co Tipperary: Over 900 Concerned Parents Discuss Drugs, Youth Suicide: *UPDATED

The meeting was organised by concerned parents

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.

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.”

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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.

RELATED AUDIO & VIDEO

• Watch: More than 700 people attend meeting in Roscrea

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 

Keywords: roscrea

Clondalkin, Dublin: "No Drugs In My Business" Said The Late Jim Mansfield Snr

SELF-MADE billionaire Jim Mansfield has finally hit back at ongoing rumours that he has earned his fortune through the illegal drugs trade, blaming the malicious 

chit chat on jealousy. - See more at: 

www.independent.ie/business/irish/no-drugs-in-my-business-billionaire-26472012.html

www.drugfreeworld.org & www.drugscope.org.uk & www.drugs.ie & www.spunout.ie &
www.citywide.ie

Follow Joseph Anderson at: https://www.facebook.com/josephandersonyahoo.ie