The ever-increasing use of cocaine in Ireland, spanning across urban and rural regions, has resulted in public outbursts of violence and antisocial conduct, even during the daytime, the Dáil has been informed. Independent representative for Wexford, Verona Murphy, highlighted that the expanding issue was leading to genuine fear among citizens and a perceived lack of effective action to combat it. She commented that although the population of her county had risen by 9.5%, the police workforce hadn’t seen a corresponding increase.
In a recent address during a leaders’ discussion, Murphy recounted a violent confrontation that occurred in broad daylight at the Wexford quayside, mirroring a similar event the previous month involving the attack of two young men. In a separate incident, a woman was knocked over and had her social benefit money stolen whilst returning from the post office.
Murphy further dismissed the outdated stereotype of cocaine being a rich youth’s recreational substance. Its usage has grown prominent among all societal classes. The problem, she noted, was hitting record levels and impacting all facets of Irish society – rural communities, sports clubs, schools, and parishes. She relayed the words of a notable GAA figure and former cocaine user who likened acquiring drugs in rural Ireland to buying candy, and others noted it could be delivered as easily as ordering a pizza.
Murphy conveyed the distress felt by businesses, retail employees, and clientele in Wexford due to the glaring public drug consumption, drug deals, shoplifting, and frequent altercations that have become normative, occurring even during daytime. Fear now prevents people from walking the streets in broad daylight or during the night, she explained. Murphy relayed a conversation with an individual who used to stroll confidently down streets in the early morning hours after nights out, who now worries about doing the same at 3pm in the afternoon.
The independent member of parliament criticised the decision to reduce the number of community policing units, attacking the government for having six naval vessels, four of which remain idle at the quay, together worth half a billion euros. She conveyed her concern about the 80% decrease in narcotics raids because the police are required to gather data on 24 different points. She was critical of the current policing strategy and the policing authorities’ effectiveness.
Replying on behalf of the ruling coalition, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien described the events noted by the MP as highly distressing, which underlines the need for more effective local policing measures. He cited Swords, a part of his electorate in Dublin Fingal, as an instance where community policing has been reinstated.
The minister concurred that drug usage has seen a rise, asserting that the problem isn’t only with cocaine. He declared synthetic cannabis as one of the most harmful narcotics available and elaborated that it is no longer naturally sourced. It is now 100 times more potent, incredibly harmful to young people, and especially detrimental to individuals under 25.
O’Brien, who once headed the regional anti-drugs squad in North Dublin for ten years, stated that it is crucial to continue with region-based anti-drug initiatives to facilitate family aid and deliver necessary guidance for youth so that they make the right choices. He added that the government is allocating funds to the Naval Service and had made significant improvements to the financial remuneration and working terms for its new recruits.