Costello condemns fatal shooting in north inner city and calls for review of national drugs strategy

27 October 2014

by Cllr Joe Costello

The shooting dead of a man, combined with the robbery of a taxi driver and the attack on a homeless person in the space of a single night in the North Inner City are appalling and savage crimes.

The Gardaí in the Dublin North Central Division must be congratulated for making early arrests in the case.

The widespread availability of guns and drugs are giving rise to an increasing number of such crimes.  Every few years brings a new cocktail of drugs.  Despite the best efforts of the Gardaí and the Drugs Task Forces which are operating in very difficult circumstances, the problem of drug abuse and drug related crime continues to be a serious challenge for the community in the  North Inner City.

It is now time to revisit the National Drugs Strategy (2009-2016) with  a view to  refocusing drug policy in line with recent developments in drug abuse  and to resourcing the drug treatment services.