The lead singer with the Irish rock band Aslan, Christy Dignam, a former heroin addict, yesterday warned schoolchildren not to take drugs. He told them his harrowing story of progressing to spending up to pounds 100 a day on heroin. He told delegates at the final day of a European-funded conference on the threat of drug abuse in rural areas how, at one of his lowest points, he prayed for help after contemplating suicide. "Death was my next step," he told the students and delegates. [continues 352 words]
Gardai suspect that pounds 4.5m worth of cocaine found in a fruit and vegetable warehouse in north Co Dublin yesterday was probably transported in error from Antwerp in Belgium with a cargo of bananas. Fifty-two kilos of the drug were found by detectives after staff at the wholesale distribution warehouse contacted them. The drugs were contained in three boxes that had arrived as part of a large cargo from Antwerp last month. The cargo originated in Colombia, South America and gardai think the cocaine was hidden among the fruit as it was being loaded. [continues 328 words]
The investigation by Garda and RUC detectives into money laundering has led them to a number of foreign countries including the US, it has emerged. Preliminary estimates are that pounds 70 million and at least the same amount in sterling was laundered through a small bureau de change close to the Border. Seven people remained in Garda custody last night in connection with the investigation. The period of detention for six of these is due for review early today. One woman was released yesterday evening and a man was arrested yesterday morning. [continues 140 words]
GARDAI have launched a full scale cross-border investigation following the arrest of a man from Armagh and the seizure of cannabis resin worth approximately IEP850,000 near Balbriggan, Co Dublin early yesterday morning. The man was arrested after he drove the wrong way along part of the Balbriggan by-pass and through the town at speeds close to 100mph. Garda sources suspect the drugs were imported by one of the North's major drug dealers who has connections with loyalist paramilitaries. He is believed to be operating out of Portadown at the moment and the drugs would have been distributed there and in Belfast. [continues 412 words]
HEROIN worth an estimated IEP7 million has been seized and eight people were under arrest last night following a joint operation by the Garda National Drugs Unit and gardai in Balbriggan. A further haul of cocaine, with a street value of IEP500,000, was recovered in south Co. Dublin following a series of planned raids in the wake of the heroin find. The seven kilogrammes of heroin is the biggest seizure of its kind in Ireland. The haul was found on land near Lusk in north Co. Dublin last month. However the seizure and lengthy surveillance operation was kept from the media because gardai feared any publicity would alert one of the main men involved in the deal. [continues 239 words]
'DRUGS got in the way' read a note a drug addict left for his parents and family before he hanged himself. The body of 25-year-old John Gavin Birdy, Lurgans, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan was found in the Dundalk guesthouse room he paid for before his death. Dundalk Coroners Court heard from his father, Cathal Birdy, that his son had been off drugs for a year but had been back on them for six weeks before his death. Gda Colm Dempsey found a suicide note in the guesthouse room which he read into the court record: "Mom & Dad, I know this is me being selfish again but I don't want this life on me or on yous and I have no control over it thats how strong it really is. I know I could last a while longer but it is only prolonging the pain and trouble with it I really do love yous family and I know this is best for us all so, until we meet again in a much more beautiful world Ill say my goodbyes for now. I am sorry, Gerry, Dermot, Golm, Brian. I love you boys and I am sorry drugs got in the way.'' [continues 122 words]
THE tragedy of drug addiction was spelt out in heart-breaking detail yesterday by a grieving father who told how heroin had driven his son to suicide. John Gavin Birdy was 25 years old, full of promise and love for his family, but ended his life because he could not cope with the despair of his addiction. Yesterday, his devastated mother and father sat together in Dundalk Coroner's Court, as a garda read the suicide note that revealed the suffering of their son. "I am sorry. I love you ... and I am sorry. Drugs got in the way," he wrote before hanging himself in a guesthouse in Dundalk on June 6. [continues 312 words]
A man was arrested by gardai who found drugs worth more than #4 million in his car when he was stopped at a routine Bank Holiday weekend checkpoint on Saturday night. There were 230,000 ecstasy tablets which it's believed were destined for distribution in Dublin. Gardai also recovered 103kg of cannabis resin. The 37-year-old man, who is unemployed, is being detained under the Drug Trafficking Act at Drogheda Garda station. The Director of Public Prosecutions will decide later today whether he will appear before a special court sitting or be released without charge pending the preparation of a file. [continues 489 words]
Three men, two from Dublin and one from Co Kildare, were being questioned by gardam last night after the seizure of cannabis resin worth up to #2.5 million yesterday morning. The three were arrested at Coolfore, Ashbourne, Co Meath, as the drugs were being transferred from a 40ft truck to a car. The men were taken to Ashbourne Garda station where they were detained under the Drug Trafficking Act and questioned by members of the National Drugs Unit. A Garda spokesman said yesterday's seizure followed an ongoing operation by the National Drugs Unit and the men were arrested just after 8 a.m. The man from Co Kildare is in his 30s, while one of the others is understood to be 28 years old. [continues 261 words]
TWO men who pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis resin with intent to supply had been used by others more heavily involved in the drug scene, Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court was told. Paul Quinn (42) and James Downey (27) with addresses at Ballsgrove Estate, Drogheda, admitted possession of the drug at Cord Road, Drogheda on the February 10, 1994. Yesterday morning both had denied the charge as well as a charge of possession of ecstasy with intent to supply on the same date. In the afternoon, the court was told there had been a development. The men were re-charged with just the cannabis offence to which they then pleaded guilty and the State entered a nolle prosecute in relation to the ecstasy charge. [continues 244 words]
