CANNABIS IS A 'GATEWAY DRUG' LEADING TO CRIME

Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne last night dismissed demands for the
legalisation of "soft" drugs and warned cannabis is a key factor in
Ireland's current crime problem.

Commissioner Byrne issued the warning as he revealed gardai are on target
to achieve a crime reduction of 10pc plus this year.

Ireland now boasts half the European crime average with the Garda crime
detection rate of 42pc higher than that of police in the UK (26pc) and the
US (21pc).

But the Commissioner focussed on claims garda resources are being wasted in
the battle against soft drugs.

A garda survey revealed however, more than 50pc of addicts surveyed had
started with cannabis - and more than 90pc were now using heroin as their
primary drug.

Garda operations in Cork, Clare and Tipperary over the past month netted
over £5m worth of cannabis and ecstasy, he pointed out.

"The significant findings of our research are that cannabis is a gateway
drug and there is a strong connection between drug-taking and crime."

Commissioner Byrne, addressing the Ireland-US Chamber of Commerce in Cork,
also expressed concern at the surge in computer-crime. It is now one of the
greatest challenges facing international police.