NEWRY CONFRONTS DRUG DEALERS

A new campaign against Newry drug dealers got off to an angry and emotional
start in the centre of the town last Saturday. A large antidrugs rally
heard the mother of a murder victim break down as she said, "I wouldn't
like to see any other family going through what we are going through today."

Una Hart's 20 year old daughter Belinda was killed by a shotgun blast in a
flat in the town's North Street two weeks ago

The rally also heard from Sinn Fein Councillors Brendan Curran and Davy
Hyland. Both have been outspoken against the drug dealers and their lives
have been threatened in recent months. Brendan Curran's home has been
attacked and he and his family have been threatened on the street. His
brother was injured when he was struck by a lump of granite thrown through
his front window. One drug dealer has twice driven a car at Davy Hyland as
he cycled through the town.

The same dealer has used violence to carve out his empire in Newry, a
nationalist town which has a growing reputation for drug use. He broke the
legs and arms of a rival and left him outside the back door of one of his
(the rival's) sellers. He then told the seller that he would have to work
for him or he would get the same. The rival is now out of hospital and
living in a largely loyalist town in South Down.

A number of major dealers live in or near Newry. The main supplier gets his
drugs from a criminal gang in Dublin and is part of a supply line to
loyalist paramilitaries in midUlster.

Paddy Farrell, who was shot dead a few months ago by his mistress in
Drogheda, was a multimillionaire drug dealer who lived in a large house on
Newry's Dublin Road. His associates are currently trying to continue his
activities.

Three other major dealers live comfortable lives in villages close to Newry.

Davy Hyland asked the crowd at Saturday's rally if they wanted Newry to
resemble Dublin where there are more than 8,000 heroin addicts on the
streets. When he was answered with a resounding "No!" he told the crowd
that they had to organise in the same way that the people of Dublin had and
drive the dealers from their midst.

Brendan Curran attacked the RUC for their lack of interest in the drug
problem. "The RUC attacked us when we made it known that there was a drug
problem in this town. They are only interested in recruiting drug dealers
to spy on republicans." He said that local people must ostracise the
dealers and unite in every way to organise against them.

A public meeting will be held in Newry on 8 December to elect a committe to
to fight the drug problem in the town.