Spike in muggings in Cork city linked to heroin addicts

A spike in muggings and pickpocketing in Cork City last summer was primarily due to heroin addicts trying to feed their habit.

A meeting of the Cork City Joint Policing Committee (JPC) yesterday heard Chief Superintendent Michael Finn say that there was a noticeable increase in heroin use in the city centre last year, but it seems to have stabilised recently.

The heroin problem is to be aired at a meeting of the JPC, likely to be held in late April or early May to which the public will be invited.