Sinn Féin Councillor and General Election Candidate Gary Doherty has highlighted the need for greater resources to be given to Gardaí to help combat drug crime in Donegal.
Cllr Doherty’s come following recently released data from the Central Statistics Office which shows that since 2010 there have been over 130 controlled drug offences recorded at Garda Stations throughout the east of the county.
Commenting on the figures, Cllr Doherty said “In recent weeks we’ve heard reports of drug busts and drug related offences in the county and the whole issue has been very much brought to the fore of late.
“Given the huge amount of anecdotal evidence to suggest that Donegal has a serious problem with drug possession and trafficking, I asked my colleague Deputy Pearse Doherty to raise the issue with the Minister before the Dáil ended and to obtain figures relating to controlled drug offences in East Donegal.
“The figures which I’ve subsequently received from the CSO make for harrowing reading as records show that in the last six years there has been a total of 131 controlled drug offences recorded by Gardaí at just five of the main stations throughout the region.
“What is worrying here is that the main drug offences under which criminal charges are brought are offences of drug possession and possession for the purpose of supply so this data does nothing to alleviate fears that a thriving drug trade in the county exists.”
He added that these figures may just be the tip of the iceberg and, given the huge under sourcing of Gardaí to help tackle this scourge, who’s to say that the actual rates for drug related offences aren’t much higher in Donegal.
“Communities across this State have felt the serious impact of cutbacks to An Garda Síochána delivered by Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil since 2010.
Garda numbers are down and 139 Garda stations have been closed and, as a result, drug crime has been allowed to flourish.
“Sinn Féin has promised to tackle crime in all its forms head on, and has pledged to recruit an additional 3,000 Gardaí over the next five years if we are in government to restore force numbers to pre-crisis levels, and our party are committed to reopening Garda stations which were closed as part of the shameful legacy of Fine Gael and Labour.”
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