DRUG DEALING 'THUGS' TAKE OVER DERELICT FLATS

A NEWRY councillor has accused the Housing Executive of letting a
block of empty communal flats become a focal point for drug dealers.

Brendan Curran said the four uninhabited flats in Newry's John
Mitchel Street have become synonymous with drugs and urged the
Housing Executive to take action to stop the situation spiralling
out of control.

"These flats have been abandoned by the Housing Executive," said the
SF rep. "All the windows are either broken or boarded up, the front
door into the flats is wide open, electrical circuit boards are
lying open too and there's broken glass everywhere.

"They have abandoned it to a group of thugs who are using the
building as a gathering point for drug dealing. They intimidate and
terrorise this community and their demeanour is bringing this entire
area down.

"It is up to the Housing Executive to secure these flats and let
them out to responsible people who really need accommodation."

The Sinn Fein councillor warned that the situation will get out of
control if not dealt with immediately and urged parents to make sure
their children are not playing in the vicinity of the flats.

"I would make a direct plea to the parents of this area to make sure
their children are not hanging about this place and to be aware that
heavy drugs are being sold from here on a regular basis," he added.

"And with drugs you also have the strong possibility of related
violence. Two knives were found in a garden close to this building
only last week and no doubt these sort of weapons would be used by
people peddling drugs.

"It's a very serious situation and one that the entire community up
here should not have to put up with." A Housing Executive
spokesperson said a site visit at the flats has been arranged.

"The door to the flats 45/47 John Mitchell Street cannot be secured
as one of the flats is tenanted and two of the vacant ones have been
undergoing repairs. Both of these will be ready for occupation next
week," she said. "Repairs are also being carried out to the fourth
flat, which will be completed in a few weeks.

"The Housing Executive has not received any recent reports of
repairs needed to the entrance doors at the front and rear. Repairs
to these were completed in August. Arrangements have however been
made for an inspection of these to be carried out.

"Councillor Curran has also been in contact with the Housing
Executive in Newry about the flats and a site visit is to be arranged."