Bid to tackle drug gang intimidation

GARDAÍ are looking at setting up a secure system to allow drug users and their families to safely report intimidation from drug gangs.

The extent of the intimidation problem was revealed last week in a harrowing report by the Family Support Network (FSN).

The report, based on detailed research of around 50 families, revealed:

* Families of drug users are subjected to threats, beatings, shootings, pipe bomb and arson attacks over debts owed by their children to dealers.

* Many families have borrowed heavily – with some remortgaging their homes – to pay debts as high as €60,000.

* Many drug users have been horrifically assaulted, including one who was burned and had chemicals poured into him.

* Two users have been murdered and one has committed a murder over drug debts.

The report said families were “too fearful” to seek support from gardaí and believed gardaí would be unable to help. It called for a safe reporting system, under which a garda would be identified in each area to liaise with families.

A copy of the report was sent to Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy for his consideration.

Detective Superintendent Barry O’Brien of the Garda National Drug Unit (GNDU) said the force was examining the issue.

“The Family Support Network have made clear recommendations and we’re looking at it. Their key recommendation is to find someone as a link, a nominated garda. We are looking at this favourably. At this juncture it is being considered.”

He said tackling the issue of intimidation was an action under the new National Drugs Strategy (NDS) 2009-2016, as revealed in the Irish Examiner last week.

Det Supt O’Brien said gardaí were “conscious of the sensitivities” surrounding the issue of intimidation.

“People feel very vulnerable, it’s the nature of intimidation and lends to under-reporting. We’re conscious of that. Those who report feel very vulnerable. They fear for their personal safety.”

He added: “The individual user is invariably going to be intimidated to extract money and in some cases families. In either case, it’s extremely sensitive for them. There’s a huge fear factor.”

He said the information could provide a number of purposes: “It could be a catalyst to investigate a particular incident, or to bring perpetrators to justice.”