Drug units could 'help clean up the capital'

Merchants Quay Centre chief executive Tony Geoghegan thinks a mobile drug treatment van, one of which was in operation some years ago, would reduce the levels of drug-taking and anti-social behaviour in Dublin city centre.

Such an initiative would see a van or bus travelling around the city issuing drugs to users in a controlled environment rather than having users congregate in one place.

"A mobile drug unit might be helpful in terms of drug abuse and the anti-social behaviour that unfortunately comes with it in parts of the city," said Mr Geoghegan.

"In a street where a small but chaotic group congregate to use drugs, it would impact greatly on taking them out of that one area."

Mr Geoghegan also said his organisation would consider running such a van or bus if there was interest, having already opened the city's first night cafe last month.

"We'd prefer if nobody was using drugs, but it would be preferable having a controlled service," he said.

The Herald highlighted the scourge of drug abuse in Dublin last week when we revealed that heroin addicts were shooting up in plain view in a park only yards from a school.

The problem has become so bad that Fr Stanislaw Hajowski is forced to lock the gates of the adjoining St Audoen's Catholic Church to keep addicts out.

hnews@herald.ie