MEMORIAL TO DRUGS VICTIMS

Sir, - W.G.A. Scott, an ex-policeman (December 23rd), criticised President
McAleese for unveiling a memorial to all those people who died directly or
indirectly as a result of drugs. His argument is that consuming drugs is a
voluntary activity and therefore those who died are as much deserving of a
memorial as, say, a drunk driver who dies while killing others in an
accident.

Your correspondent misses the point on a number of issues.

National and local drug task forces have been set up to combat the root
cause of the drugs epidemic. In all cases these task forces are in areas
where life choices for young people are limited and the risks of descending
into addiction are immense. This link is beyond dispute.

Much remains to be done, but if your corespondent's way of thinking
prevails, the situation will only worsen. Falling into addiction in these
areas is not voluntary.

The memorial which he ridicules is part of the process of addressing the
drug crisis. The significance of the President coming down on a cold
December afternoon to unveil a memorial to all those who died from drugs was
that our society was finally admitting it had failed those who died. She
realised the uniqueness and sacredness of the occasion. She spoke as a
mother to mothers who had lost children to a social epidemic. People who had
hidden their feelings of grief and loss were deeply moved by the occasion
and still talk about how in touch the President was with them.

We stood beside the President when she was introduced to a mother who had
lost three children to heroin in the space of 18 months. Deeply moved, the
President asked how could she face the days. The mother said that the
memorial and the President's visit would make the next day a bit easier.

Your correspondent clearly comes from a generation of policemen who had no
analysis of social issues and felt no need to see the causes of crime and
drug addiction. It was this type of attitude that allowed, by default, open
dealing to go on in areas such as that where the memorial now stands. The
Garda, particularly members of the Drug Squad, who were present when the
President unveiled the memorial, were moved as much as the rest of us by the
occasion. They know the extraordinary significance of the memorial and,
unlike your correspondent, are aware of the link between addiction and
social conditions. - Yours, etc.,

Mick Rafferty and Tony Sheehan, (on behalf of the ICON Memorial Committee),
Buckingham Street, Dublin 1.