BALLYMUN ANTI-DRUGS ACTIVISTS PRAISED

Drugs with a value of around £500,000 have been seized in the Ballymun area
of north Dublin in the last 18 months. The seizures are the result of an
increased Garda presence and better co-operation with communities,
according to Chief Supt James Murphy of Santry Garda station. The total
includes one large seizure of cannabis worth around £200,000.

Members of 18 drugs block watches, groups of people who have set up watches
to prevent drug dealing in the Ballymun blocks, were presented with
certificates yesterday.

Chief Supt Murphy told the group, "You the people have been there day and
night patrolling the area. We ourselves cannot do the work without your
involvement."

Ms Marie Cooper from the Shangan Road community council read a letter from
an addict thanking the drugs watch workers for getting her off drugs. "She
says she doesn't know where she would be today if I hadn't interfered."

Ms Cooper said there had been more than 1,000 people involved in marches
when the community started to act on the drug problem. Ms Marcella Givens,
also from the community council, said people in the area had "lost faith"
before the marches began because drug dealers were not being evicted.