ELDERLY people no longer feel safe going to Mass in Limerick City due to the prevalence of open drug dealing, drug use, and aggressive begging, one Council member has said.
At the May monthly Metropolitan District meeting, Independent councillor Maria Donoghue called for the Council to write to the HSE and the Department of Justice requesting them to develop a proactive task-force to deal with the drug problem across the city.
Her proposal, Cllr Donoghue explained, is part of a broader vision to support the existing city centre community and reassert Limerick as a place to “live, study, work, and enjoy”.
“Residents have reported to me an increase in open drug use, begging, discarded needles, and it’s happening in schools, churches, and in their doorways,” Cllr Donoghue said.
“It’s not just a policing issue, it’s a public health and social care issue. We can’t allow the situation to become normalised, and it is becoming normalised.
“The drug culture is crossing the line, and I most strenuously call for this to be stopped before our community suffers irreparably.”
Labour Party councillor Joe Leddin said he has been informed by city traders that the situation has never been as bad in terms of “begging, street harassment, and open drug dealing at every second corner”.
He believes the problem needs to be tackled by Gardaí and called for a high level meeting with the Chief Superintendent.
“We’re no different than any other city. We all love our city and we’re trying to do our best for our city. But the reality is now we do have a serious issue to deal with regarding drug taking, drug dealing, harassment, and bullying,” Cllr Leddin commented.
“I’ve had people who used to go into the Augustinian church tell me they will no longer come into the city to go to Mass because they’re afraid of the harassment and the potential bullying they will get.”
Cathaoirleach of the Metropolitan District, Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon, agreed with Cllr Leddin’s assessment and reiterated his call for greater Garda resources for the city.
“I’m involved up in St John’s Cathedral there, which is my original parish, and there’s an issue with drinking and probably drugs. They have to shut the doors of the cathedral and it’s a tourist attraction in that area,” Cllr O’Hanlon said.
“There’s people sitting around the fountain drinking openly and using it as a toilet and everything. We need to do something about that.”
Cllr O’Hanlon said that “the source of all the problems are the drug dealers who are ruining communities and ruining families and killing young kids”.
“We need greater resources in the Gardaí with the Drug Squad and Criminal Assets Bureau to take their gains off them. These people have no regard for life or communities.”
Fine Gael councillor Daniel Butler, a qualified addiction counsellor, advised Council members to be careful when discussing this issue as it’s a “complex” one.
“Essentially we’re talking about the human condition. We’re always going to suffer pain, anxiety, and trauma in our life. It’s always going to be there. Drugs will always be there because people have always reached for something that will kill the pain. I think we should always be very delicate in terms of how we’re discussing the issue as well,” Cllr Butler interjected.
Aontú councillor Sarah Beasley, who has been providing food, warm drinks, and clothes for rough sleepers and others experiencing homelessness in the city centre for a number of years, said that Limerick now finds itself in difficulty with drug addiction.
“It is also going out to the communities and people are suffering really badly. People are openly taking drugs around crèches and playgrounds. This is a massive issue and it needs to be addressed by all of us. We need to do something,” Cllr Beasley petitioned.
