A GARDA inspector took part in public anti-drugs protest meeting in Dublin last night. Inspector Michael Burke, of the Bridewell station, told a crowd of about 300 people in the Father Mathew Hall in Church Street that more gardai would be appearing on their streets due to Operation Dochas, the force's anti drugs initiative.
He appealed to the crowd to help the gardai who would be on patrol.
"I'm asking you tonight to give those young gardai your assistance, to talk to them, to point them in the right direction", he said. He added that he hoped marches could be kept peaceful because if there was any threat to life or property the gardai were "duty bound to take action".
A number of speakers criticised the gardai for not being more active against drug dealers.
Mr Tony Gregory TD said that the gardai had "failed the people". If communities were obliged to force out dealers, they had "a right to do that" he added.
Some local residents said that the gardai had not responded when told of drug dealing in particular flats.
Mr Jim Mitchell, the Fine Gael TD, joined in. "I completely agree with the criticisms of the guards", he said. "What are the Government doing about it? I have to say, so far, still not enough."
After the meeting, the crowd marched around the markets area, shining a spotlight on alleged dealers' flats and houses. There was a heavier than unusual Garda presence for such events about 12 gardai accompanied the march.
Meanwhile, about 50 people attended an anti drugs meeting in the Avon dale House flats complex near Sean MacDermott Street and agreed to extend residents' patrols in the area. Residents of Champion Avenue said that their street pickets, which started last week, had driven drug dealers away.