FG urges legal advice on RTÉ drug claims

FINE GAEL last night urged the Government to seek legal advice on an author’s controversial claims that one of its ministers was a regular cocaine user.

However, junior minister with responsibility for drugs, Pat Carey, said he was awaiting the outcome of RTÉ’s investigation into its two-part documentary which was based on the High Society book by Justine Delaney-Wilson.

The possibility of legal action will only be addressed on the publication of that internal report, he said.

During the Dáil’s three- and-a-half hour debate on the drugs strategy, Fine Gael’s Michael Ring said he was disappointed at the Government’s decision not to take a case against the “serious allegations” affecting a small group of people.

“I do not believe the allegation, but I am surprised that the Cabinet as a group did not take a case against Ms Delaney-Wilson and RTÉ because this serious allegation has been left to hang over 15 ministers,” he said.

“It is wrong that somebody should make an allegation such as this against ministers, judges, airline pilots and other professional people. When the furore hit the airwaves, Ms Delaney-Wilson went on holidays, which is also wrong.”

With 160 gardaí overseeing Operation Freeflow in Dublin this week, Mr Ring reasoned that gardaí should be used on a daily basis to stop the “free flow of drugs” across the country.

If the Government is serious about confronting the drug problem there should be a huge clampdown on the drug pushers operating in communities, he said.

“It is time this house, the Government and the people of this country agreed to put in place the resources, the money and the personnel required to get rid of these drug pushers.

“They should not be on the streets but behind bars. That is the attack we should be carrying out today,” he said.

Labour’s Jack Wall said that in the climax to Christmas parties would become increasingly prevalent and the extent of the drugs problem more visible.

“The Irish Examiner is to be congratulated on marvellous journalism, albeit frightening to read. The photograph showing the damage done to a young woman by drugs over a period was unthinkable, but it was the first time the position was outlined in a national newspaper,” he said. “Were the photograph to be on the wall of any house to show children what destruction drugs can do it would be a wonderful day’s work.”

Sinn Féin’s Aengus Ó Snodaigh claimed that six years after the national drugs strategy was established, it has ultimately failed to deliver, despite it being conservative in its targets.