Pubdate: Wed, 10 Oct 2007
Source: Derry Journal (UK)
Copyright: 2007 Johnston Press PLC
Contact:  http://www.derryjournal.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4557
Author: Kyle White
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

DRUG DEALERS KILLED MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER - DRUG VICTIM'S MOTHER
SPEAKS OUT

The heartbroken mother of tragic drugs victim, Danielle Gibbens, says 
her teenage daughter was "preyed on by evil drug dealers" who showed 
total disregard for her safety.

Eighteen-year-old Danielle, from Walworth Park in Ballykelly, died 
after taking a quantity of drugs - believed to have been three 
ecstasy pills - at a party in Limavady on Thursday night last.

Her distraught mother, Mary, today choked back the tears as she told 
the 'Journal' her daughter was a "beautiful, loving girl, who really 
knew how to show you that she loved you."

"Danielle was just a typical teenager," she said. "There were times 
when she would have driven me mad, but then there were the times when 
we got on so well with each other and went out shopping or went for 
coffee together.

"I loved her so much and it is really difficult to believe that she 
has gone. We are a close-knit family and are pulling together to try 
to get through this. My husband is just in pieces about this.

"Danielle was a vulnerable girl who was bullied at school because she 
was heavy and that really hit her confidence. She lost a lot of 
weight, but I don't think she ever recovered from being taunted at 
school; despite this she was a beautiful-looking girl, she never saw 
that in herself and I think her lack of self-esteem left her vulnerable.

"These drug dealers are evil and it is they who the police need to go 
after. I wish they were all in jail or else where my daughter 
Danielle is now. They drive around in their fancy cars and live in 
nice houses and get all the young ones to go out and sell their drugs 
for them and it is time they were stopped once and for all," added Mrs Gibbens.

She praised the local community in Ballykelly for their messages of 
support in the wake of Danielle's death last week.

"People I barely know have been coming up to the house and they have 
all been great," she said. "People have told me that I couldn't have 
Danielle glued to my side 24 hours a day, but as her mother I still 
feel that I could have done something to have stopped this happening, 
even though I know that there was nothing I could have done.

"The only comfort I will get out of Danielle's death is if other 
young people sit up and take notice of what happened to her and it 
helps to get the message across about how dangerous these drugs are."

Danielle was buried following Requiem Mass at St Finlough's Church in 
Ballykelly on Monday morning.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom