ONE of Dublin's major drug dealers was surrounded by anti drug protesters last night as he made his way by taxi through the north inner city. The man, in his late 20s, was trapped in the taxi as about 1,000 marchers headed for his home to stage a protest.
The taxi was hatted at traffic lights when the front of the march turned a corner on to Summerhill Parade at about 10 p.m. The protesters gathered around the car, shouting "scumbag" and banging on the bonnet and roof with their hands. Four gardai intervened and the taxi was able to drive off.
Later, when the march halted outside the man's house. Mr Tony Kelly, of Ballybough Against Drugs, shouted to local residents: "People from all over the city have come to support you to get this scumbag out of here."
Earlier, at a meeting in Buckingham Street, the media came in for criticism for focusing on vigilante activity rather than on peaceful anti drug protests. The main criticism was of The Irish Times and RTE, which had carried reports linking Ballybough Against Drugs to vigilante activity. Mr Kelly said that they had nothing to do with vigilantes.
There was a standing ovation for a 17 year old member of the Ballybough group when he said that two people had called to his home earlier this week, put a gun to his head and warned him to keep away from drug protests. "I'm telling them - because I'm sure they have ears here - if you re looking for me again, I'll be in the next march", he said.
Another anti drug march, organised by the Coalition of Communities Against Drugs, begins at the GPO at 1 p.m today.