Donegal anti-drugs campaigner, PJ Blake is calling on the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner to come clean about the future of the Drugs Unit in Donegal.
His call comes following the news that cannabis estimated to be worth in the region of €240,000 was seized in the Garvanach area outside Ballintra, south Donegal on Thursday night.
Mr Blake has also warned that the news that the Cavan-Monaghan garda division’s dedicated drugs unit is being axed with immediate effect could be a sign of things to come in Donegal.
According to information received by the Monaghan based Clr Robbie Gallagher, who originally hails from Cloncarney, Termon, local gardaí were given the order with little warning earlier this week to immediately disband the Divisional Drugs Unit after 14 years in operation. The four gardaí and one detective sergeant currently working in the unit will be redeployed into the general force.
“This is another major blow to law and order in this region,” said Clr Gallagher.
“This shocking news came with no warning and it means that there will no longer be any dedicated drugs unit in Cavan or Monaghan. It’s understood the move is a result of fears that the uniform section of the gardaí locally will be dangerously understaffed as a result of major cuts to garda resources over the past year.
“I’d now fear that the same might happen in Donegal. People like PJ Blake and various gardai have over the years made an important contribution to the battle against drugs and it would be terrible if that were to be lost now due to cutbacks,” he said
His concerns have been echoed by Mr Blake.
“The Donegal Drugs Unit has been in operation for around 20 years and has been extremely successful in tackling the sale and supply of drugs in this region. Since its establishment, this intelligence-led task force has been directly responsible for many of the drugs prosecutions in this division.
“I am seriously struggling to understand how the Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and Justice Minister Alan Shatter can justify leaving Cavan-Monaghan and possibly Donegal with no gardaí dedicated solely to targeted drugs criminals and intercepting the sale and supply of drugs in our communities. The consequences of shutting such a unit, particularly in a border region, will be far-reaching,” said the Letterkenny-based campaigner.
He added the Cavan-Monaghan decision was only the tip of the iceberg
“This is just the latest in what has become an outright attack on community garda resources around the country. Gardaí are at the end of their tether as a result of Minister Shatter’s cuts and his outright refusal to lift the ban on garda recruitment.
“They have been left no choice but to stand by and watch the dismantling of vital garda services that have benefited our communities over the years. I will be seeking an immediate explanation from Minister Shatter about what is happening in Cavan-Monaghan and clarity on whether similar cuts are imminent here in Donegal. I will also be calling on our political leaders and first citizens in the various towns to join the fight today.”
