STUDENTS NOW TARGET OF RAILWAY STATION DRUG GANGS

Drug dealers are targeting students and young workers who have moved to
Dublin.

They prey on young passengers using Heuston station, which gardai say has
become a lucrative location for the supply of a wide range of illegal
substances.

Cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis are all being supplied to the huge crowds
converging daily on the country's busiest rail station.

Students and young workers arriving in the capital or leaving Dublin for
the weekend are the main target for the dealers, Drug Squad gardai have
confirmed.

Yesterday a judge warned that Heuston Station would come under closer
scrutiny by gardai in the immediate future.

Judge John Garavan was commenting at Galway District Court after hearing
how a 27-year-old Dublin man bought ecstasy and cocaine at the train
station in Dublin before travelling to Galway.

Simon O'Brien of Foxhill Park, Airfield, had been having a drink in the bar
at Heuston Station when the opportunity arose to buy the drugs, solicitor
Benen Fahy told the court.

O'Brien admitted having possession of one ecstasy tablet and 0.334gm of
cocaine when challenged by gardai in Galway last July.

He had come to Galway for a concert as part of the Galway Arts' Festival
and the court heard that over 100 people had appeared on drug charges - all
surrounding the annual Arts Festival - in the last fortnight.

O'Brien was fined pounds 200.