Drugs 'epidemic' in south Mayo

SOUTH Mayo is experiencing a 'complete epidemic' when it comes to drugs.

The situation is out of control, a local councillor has warned, calling for a pilot project for the region to tackle what he described as an 'explosive' issue.

Drug detections in the county as a whole are similar to this time last year, with 62 cases of sale and supply and 186 detections of possession for own use.

Ballinrobe-based Councillor Michael Burke, at a Mayo Joint Policing Committee meeting, felt the figures for the south region were 'awful high for a small community', with 16 suppliers detected and 44 personal users, along with one incident of cultivation.

If the detection rate was at around 10%, that would say there is a huge amount of people who are free to supply drugs, he noted.

The councillor also highlighted how young children aged 14 and 15 are being brought into the system of being offered a little bit of stuff for €5 or €10, and young people will try things. As much action as possible is needed, and particularly in south Mayo.

Councillor Damien Ryan requested a pilot project for the region to tackle what has become an 'explosive issue', highlighting the area's proximity to Galway and the motorway.

He could not stress it strongly enough: it is an accepted fact that the drugs issue in south Mayo has become a complete epidemic, he told the JPC.

"It has gone out of control," he said, highlighting how it is now the number one representation elected members receive from teachers, parents, business people and the community at large.

There had been altercations and other issues in the last number of weeks that were well known to the gardaí, he added.

Councillor Christy Hyland said the county is 'awash with drugs' and unless the department gave the gardaí resources there was only so much they can do.

The total value of drugs seized in Mayo this year is €786,000, Supt. Joe McKenna told the meeting, with cannabis herb the most common drug being used in recent months.

One of the most recent detections in the area occurred in the graveyard in Ballinrobe.

The mobility of the drugs unit was identified as key to its effectiveness to respond to issues.

It was also suggested a JPC sub-committee could feed back into the ongoing work to tackle drugs.