Pubdate: Sat, 13 Nov 1999
Source: Belfast Telegraph (UK)
Copyright: 1999 Belfast Telegraph Newspapers Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/
Author: Darwin Templeton

ALERT OVER DEADLY NEW ECSTASY PILL

Detectives issued an urgent warning to parents and teenagers today that a
potentially deadly batch of Ecstasy could be on sale in Northern Ireland.

They issued a public alert after a teenage girl was rushed to hospital
suffering from terrifying side-effects brought on by a pill.

And there were fears that the pushers could try to offload more of the
dangerous drugs at venues tonight.

The 18-year-old girl collapsed after taking part of an Ecstasy tablet
stamped with the Mitsibushi car symbol at a nightspot in the Ballinamallard
area of Fermanagh last Saturday.

She said her head started spinning and her legs buckled before she blacked
out.

Worried paramedics said her pulse rocketed on the way to hospital and
doctors described her condition as acute'.

The teenager rallied and was discharged the next day, but RUC chiefs are
checking reports that two other young people collapsed at the venue on the
night.

Detective Chief Inspector Norman Baxter, who's leading the investigation,
said: From what we know, this girl had a very, very lucky escape.

Had she consumed a full tablet, we could have been dealing with a tragedy
because it may have killed her.

We don't know what this particular pill contained, but we do know that
Mitsibushis on sale in Northern Ireland in the past have only contained 20
per cent of Ecstasy.

The pills can be mixed with anything from baking soda to paracetamol - and
even worse.

We can say that this particular batch contains a dangerous combination of
chemicals.

We want to warn young people and their parents that there are people out
there who are prepared to peddle poison for profit.'As inquiries continue,
Mr Baxter also appealled for anyone who witnessed the incident involving
the girl, or who knows anything about drug dealing to contact his team.

John Ellis, a drugs education worker with the Aisling centre in
Enniskillen, said: This incident shows that even half a pill can do damage.

Young people should realise that when it comes to drugs, there are no
quality controls and no consumer rights.

The safest way is just not to take them in the first place.'The dangers of
Ecstasy were highlighted in 1995, when 19-year-old Sharon Giles died after
taking a tablet on a night out at an Armagh nightclub.

But the police warning will heighten concern about the growing drugs
problem in the Enniskillen area.

Already this year local police have seized drugs worth pounds 115,000 and
arrested 45 people.

The latest find was made on Monday when officers captured cannabis worth
pounds 20,000 near Irvinestown on Monday.

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