MUM EVICTED OVER SON'S CRACK DEALS

Exclusive Council Target Families Who Let Pushers Thrive

A DRUG dealer's mum has been kicked out of her home for letting her
son ply his evil trade.

Ruby Hart, 49, was evicted from her council house despite no drugs
charges being brought against her.

Council bosses acted after investigators found that she let son
David, 26, operate a drop-in service for addicts buying crack cocaine.

Yesterday, Renfrewshire Council won an eviction decree at Paisley
Sheriff Court - and councillors vowed there would be more.

Brian Lawson, convener of the council housing and community safety
policy board, said: "This is the first time that the family of a
convicted drug dealer have lost their home for allowing it to be
used to supply drugs.

"We won't tolerate drug dealers in our communities and we won't
tolerate the people who shelter them.

"We're determined to support local people by taking dealers out of
their neighbourhoods."

Neighbours had complained of deals being done at all hours in
Paisley's drug-ravaged Ferguslie Park estate.

Police were called in last year, as part of Operation Triplicate, a
joint crackdown on hard drugs in the community by Renfrewshire
Council and Strathclyde Police.

David Hart was convicted of using the three-bedroom property at
Darkwood Crescent to sell crack.

He got two years in jail and is now back on the estate with an electronic tag.

Mrs Hart was thrown out of her home along with daughter Louise
yesterday morning and is now holed up at her mum Liz's home nearby.

Last night, her mother said: "Ruby didn't know anything about what
David was up to.

"He was guilty and he is serving his time but this has had a
terrible effect on Ruby's health. Her nerves are shattered.

"She is just an ordinary woman and she was not a bad neighbour."

But last night, one local scoffed: "If Ruby didn't know what was
going on, she was the only person in Fergie Park who didn't.

"David Hart was selling drugs to all sorts. It was like a
drive-through service. People would come by in taxis at all hours
and get their gear from Hart, then just head off.

"It was so brazen and decent people around here were disgusted at
the way it went on.

"This is the best news we have heard in years. The Hart family are
neighbours from hell and they don't give a damn about anyone else."

Chief Superintendent John Harkin, of Strathclyde Police, said:
"There will be many more convicted drug dealers from this area as a
result of Operation Triplicate and this should serve as a warning to
anyone thinking about supplying illegal drugs."

Heroin dealer Gordon McLaughlin, 51, of Paisley, was the first
council tenant to be evicted as a result of Operation Triplicate.