Weekly cocaine parties fuel growing drug problem in Waterford

COCAINE parties in “session houses” around Waterford are a weekly occurrence, it was claimed yesterday, as two local men continued to fight for their lives after taking ill at a party on Sunday morning.

It also emerged that the person thought to have supplied the drugs that left Kevin Doyle, 21, and John Grey, 23, on the critical list at Waterford Regional Hospital was supplying cocaine for the first time in the Ballybeg suburb.

With many neighbours claiming on Sunday to have heard nothing from the party in Ballybeg Square, it is thought those present banned music or any kind of noise to avoid attention from gardaí.

Both Mr Doyle and Mr Grey were described as still being in a “critical” condition last night.

Another man, Dean Brasil, 25, was admitted to hospital on Sunday morning but has since been discharged.

Gardaí, residents and community representatives held a crisis meeting in the Ballybeg community centre last night in response to the weekend’s incidents at Ballybeg Square when cocaine is alleged to have been taken in large quantities by party-goers.

It is thought it was the mixture of alcohol and cocaine in large amounts that led to several people becoming ill in the early hours of Sunday.

A taskforce is being set up involving residents’ groups, gardaí, politicians and drug workers in an attempt to get on top of the growing drugs problem in Waterford.

Local councillor John Halligan, who attended yesterday’s meeting, said “session houses” are being held in different parts of Waterford, at least every weekend, at which quantities of drugs are being taken by young people.

“This is happening throughout the city in middle-class housing estates and upper-class housing estates and working-class housing estates,” he said.

A meeting of the new taskforce is scheduled to take place next month.

* A WATERFORD man is due in court today in connection with incidents at a 21st birthday party in the city early on Sunday morning.

Chief Superintendent David Sheehan confirmed yesterday evening the man — who was arrested on Sunday night and held at Tramore Garda Station — faces two charges of possession of illegal drugs and two charges of possession for the purposes of sale or supply.

Meanwhile, a second man was arrested yesterday in relation to the weekend’s events. The 19-year-old is being held at Waterford Garda Station.