Concern over drug dealing on canal bank

2-7-13 Canal bank walk  flyover bridge at St Mary's RFCCITY councillor Maurice Quinlivan has expressed concern regarding drug use and dangerous dogs along the canal bank close to St Maryโ€™s RFC, where a new walkway and cycleway is to be built this year.

While the Sinn Fรฉin councillor said the planned pathway would be โ€œan excellent facilityโ€ for the city, he acknowledged that there is โ€œa problem with drug dealing and pitbull-type dogs that are not muzzledโ€ in the area.

Cllr Quinlivan told Limerick Post: โ€œI was down there three times last week and you could say that there are a number of people hanging around there. I also saw some drug paraphernalia there such as burnt tin foil, and I know that under the flyover at St Maryโ€™s rugby club there are lots of discarded needles.โ€

He continued: โ€œIt seems to be a lovely walk but not everybody would feel comfortable there and thatโ€™s something we need to deal with. The gardaรญ are well aware of the drug use in the area; itโ€™s been raised at the Drugs Task Force a number of times.โ€

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Cllr Quinlivan suggested introducing regular garda patrols of the area to combat the problem, as well as a regular collection of drug paraphernalia, which he says is currently only done โ€œon an ad hoc basisโ€.

The new cycleway and walkway is set to run from Shannon Banks to UL and construction is expected to begin in August.