IRISH HOOLIGANS 'FUELLED BY COCAINE'

Police Study Reveals Violent Football Fans Use Drug to Increase Aggression

Abuse of drugs, principally cocaine, is fuelling an unprecedented
upsurge in soccer hooliganism in the Irish Republic, according to a
new study.

A report to be published this week in the Garda Review, the magazine
of the Garda Representative Association, highlights the use of drugs
by hooligans who want to get 'fired up' before games.

Inspector Tony Gallagher from Fitzgibbon Street in Dublin, the garda
station in charge of security both at Bohemian FC's Dalymount Park and
Croke Park, headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association, said of
the hooligans: 'We believe they are taking cocaine, which is
exaggerating the aggression. They are using drugs to get the psyche
right for aggression and violence against rival groups.

'They are totally fixated. They look to see if their intended target
is over your shoulder; the coins and bottles start flying - but
thankfully no garda has been injured.'

Gallagher also tells the Garda Review that his colleagues 'arrested
one hooligan who had a huge amount of controlled substances on his
person'.

In the current season there have been serious clashes between rival
gangs at the Bohemians-Shamrock Rovers game at Dalymount Park. The
garda was so concerned about trouble before, during and after the game
that it deployed as many officers around the stadium as it did at the
All-Ireland Gaelic football final. There were more than 80,000
spectators at the All-Ireland final compared with just 3,500 at the
Bohemians-Shamrock Rovers game.

Another measure of the rise in hooliganism is the policing of the main
Jodi Stand in Dalymount Park. Four years ago there were only two
gardai on duty to police the crowd in that section of the ground; this
season there is now regularly a full line of gardai down one aisle to
segregate the away supporters from the home fans.

The Garda Review investigation will also reveal that a group of
Bohemians hooligans have linked up with around 15 Wrexham supporters
that are known to the British police as troublemakers. Last year the
Wrexham hooligans attempted to join a planned riot at the north Dublin
derby between Bohemians and Shelbourne.

Last night one of Bohemians' directors, Denis Maher, confirmed it was
widespread knowledge in Irish football that cocaine was exacerbating
the new hooligan problem. 'It's true to say the rise in trouble by a
small minority is made worse by drugs. Cocaine and other drugs are
prevalent in Dublin so it's hardly a surprise.

'It's worrying that there has been this increase in violence at
certain games, especially in the streets outside stadiums. The gardai
are right to be concerned.'