Garda chief worried over rising heroin use

OLIVIA KELLEHER

GARDA COMMISSIONER Fachtna Murphy has expressed concern about Ireland’s rising heroin problem after a series of hard-drug related deaths.

However, the commissioner said that gardaí had no evidence as of yet that recession was aggravating the market for hard drugs nationwide. Experts have warned that the downturn has resulted in many addicts who previously were able to fund a cocaine habit switching to heroin.

The commissioner said that the drugs issue was an international problem that required a multi-jurisdictional and multi-agency approach. “I have spoken about the internationalisation of crime and drugs coming into this country. It is not all down to An Garda Síochána. It is multi-agency effort. But what we are doing is targeting those people, the core drug traffickers, by arresting them . . . and also by targeting the proceeds of their crime via the Criminal Assets Bureau.”

A stark warning over heroin use in the country was issued last Thursday following an inquest into the death of an 18-year-old youth from Blackpool in Cork city.

Cork city coroner Dr Myra Cullinane highlighted the “huge risks” associated with heroin and warned young people to be aware of the lethal consequences of its use.

The commissioner acknowledged that the heroin problem was now a matter of serious concern. “I am concerned. One time heroin used to only be a matter for Dublin . . . But now . . . throughout Ireland. In my own native city here in Cork it is now an issue,” he said.