FATHER OF HEROIN BOY IS CHARGED

THE parents of a three-year old boy who almost died after eating a pounds
10 heroin bag have been reported to the fiscal.

It is believed Paul Archer, 29, and Isabel Nicholson, 23, of Millerfield
Place, Dalmarnock, Glasgow, have been charged with the neglect of their
son, Andrew .

Archer also faces drug related charges.

Andrew was said to be "gravely ill, but improving" yesterday at Glasgow's
Sick Kids Hospital inYorkhill, where surgeons had fought to save his life.
He is believed to have swallowed the Class A drug in his 16th floor home on
Wednesday night.

His mother found him unconscious and ran screaming for help to a nearby
community centre, where staff called an ambulance.

The couple kept a bedside vigil all night at the hospital as staff fought
to clear the heroin from his system.

Police launched an immediate investigation.

A police insider revealed: "We had to wait until we got the toxicology
reports to see if the couple should be interviewed further.

"They will be charged in connection with neglect and Andrew's father, who
is a user, will face a drugs-related charge."

A police spokesman said: "A 29-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman will be
the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal in connection with an
incident in which a three-year-old boy took unwell after allegedly
swallowing a substance."

Frank McAveety, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, said: "This incident is a
personal tragedy and my heart goes out to young Andrew and his family at
this time.

"I will be working with Deputy Justice Minister Angus McKay to ensure
Glasgow gets a fair share of the pounds 2billion announced last week for
tackling drugs in Scotland."

Allan Harper, 13, became Scotland's youngest heroin victim in January,
1998, in Cranhill, Glasgow, an estate rife with dealers. Fury at his death
led to local women setting up Mothers Against Drugs.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed a bus driver has been sacked for using heroin.

He telephoned his depot in Glasgow's Possilpark to say he left a bag
containing syringes on his bus. The man, from Kirkintilloch, claimed they
were for his diabetic sister, but a drug test proved he had been using
heroin.