Garda chief warns of crystal meth ‘scourge’
Commissioner Murphy, speaking at a graduation of 286 new gardaí at Templemore College, referring to the “scourge” of crystal methamphetamine, said: “I would ask and plead with the public, doctors, nurses, parents who may come by information on this drug, to contact the gardaí and make sure this scourge of drug does not come into this country. I will be doing everything possible to see that this drug does not filter into this country.”
Commissioner Murphy pointed to problems crystal meth has caused in the US.
He said: “There is a higher death rate than heroin. A recent drugs operation undertaken by gardaí discovered a substantial quantity of crystal meth. This was ... the largest seizure of this type of drug in Ireland.
“I can assure you that An Garda Síochána will do everything within its powers to counter the threat of such a substance and the absolute misery attached to it. We will continue to work with other agencies to seek out new solutions to these emerging problems.”
The young gardaí, graduating yesterday, he said, would help in the frontline response to this emerging drugs threat.
He told the new gardaí: “The best advice I can give you is that our most important partner in dealing with problems in a community is the community itself.”
Referring to yesterday’s report from the Garda Complaints Board, Commissioner Murphy said he was delighted to lead the force in a new era of openness and accountability which has seen the setting up of an independent ombudsman and whistleblower rights.
He said more than 80% of complaints made against gardaí had been deemed by the commission not valid.
He said: “I say to my people ‘do your job. Be out there and act within the rules of the law and you have nothing to fear’.”
Commissioner Murphy said the importance of a visible presence among the public could not be overstressed.
He added: “It is essential that we get back to the basics of policing, to be seen on foot patrols in our towns and villages, to get to know the local community and earn their trust and confidence and thereby allay their fears and concerns.”
Meanwhile, community drug groups claimed the Government was failing to implement its own drugs strategy at a time when the drugs problem was getting “significantly worse”.
The Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign said a huge fund, which was part of the drugs strategy budget, had been unilaterally taken away and placed in another department. It feared the same level of resources will no longer be ploughed in.
And the group said that a key Government strategy on rehabilitation had become bogged down in bureaucracy, despite the dire need to move people beyond a life on methadone.
“At a time when the drugs issue is continuing to have a devastating impact on our communities, it is completely unacceptable and almost beyond belief that the Government is cutting back on resources to tackle the problem,” said Citywide’s Fergus McCabe. He said the various national drug structures had not been told that the Government was moving the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund from the Department of Community Affairs, where the minister of state with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy is based.
The fund, which has allocated more than €150 million in recent years, is being transferred to the Office of the Minister for Children.
