Drugs being sold by children in Kilkenny City - local TD

Children as young as 12 are reportedly selling drugs in Kilkenny City so that adult criminals can avoid getting caught, a local TD has said.

The availability of drugs in the city and county is ‘alarming’, John McGuinness told Monday’s meeting of the Joint Policing Committee, where the Fianna Fail TD said he has never seen the level of drug use that now exists in the city.

“I am taken aback by the level of drugs sold openly in the city and county,” he said. “I have got complaints about 12-year-olds selling drugs and they are being given the drugs to sell by those who don’t want to get caught. It is a crisis.

“Drugs can be openly bought on any street corner or in housing estates. This is not good enough.

“I fear for families in the city who owe money to drug traffickers and are subjected to intimidation. It appears that these people are getting away with it,” said Deputy McGuinness, who also asked the senior gardaí present at the meeting if they had sufficient manpower to deal with the issue.

Inspector Seán O’Meara told the members that the gardaí investigate all incidents of drug-related intimidation.

“Regarding the selling of drugs, we investigate and pursue this and we have a drugs unit,” he said. “We would love to have more resources.”

Drugs are a scourge and this is something that we pursue vigorously,” he added.

Deputy McGuinness responded saying that the availability of drugs ‘is completely out of hand’.

“I have not seen it at the level in Kilkenny City that it is now. It is shocking. There are 12-year-olds working alongside drug dealers. This is ruining families and communities in Kilkenny. I don’t think enough is being done.

“I am appealing to the superintendent to create a more visible garda presence in areas where it is known that drugs are being sold. I am asking for a planned intervention to create an awareness that shows that you are on top of it. It is not a criticism, it is a concern.”

Inspector Seán O’Meara said that where there is a demand, it will be met.

“We are aware of it and we are trying to tackle it,” he said.

“It is about education, engagement and enforcement. If we can reduce the demand, we can take the customers away. It is not just a Kilkenny problem, it is a national one. We have a dedicated drugs unit to tackle the main dealers and we are engaging with schools and sports and youth clubs. If we can get young people to stay away from drugs it will make all the difference.”

Deputy McGuinness also told the meeting that he is aware of reported beatings in a local cemetery because of a drug debt not being paid.

“What is the world coming to,” he said.

In the first three months of this year there were ten detections for sale and supply of drugs and 38 detections for personal use.