Head shop protesters take to the streets to demonstrate

May 2010

PROTESTERS took to the streets of Bray in a display of public anger following the near-fatal collapse of a teenager who had taken a substance she bought in a head shop.

People marched through the town with placards and t-shirts expressing opposition to the head shop in what is believed to be the first demonstration of its kind in Ireland since the controversy erupted several months ago.

The protesters made their way from the Town Hall to the Holy Redeemer, where they collected signatures from people on the streets opposing the presence of a head shop in the town.

The rally followed the joining forces of the four Chambers of Commerce in Co. Wicklow, representing Bray, Greystones, Wicklow and Arklow in opposition to head shops.

Deputy Andrew Doyle supported their cause, calling produce sold in the head shops ‘untested psychotic drugs targeting the brain with lethal consequences.’

Speaking during the Dáil debate on the Finance Bill, Deputy Doyle welcomed the Finance Bill amendments put in by Richard Bruton to end the ‘light touch’ regulation of the head shops in towns around Ireland and to require all head shops to apply for a licence.

‘The drug awareness community are at their wits’ end,’ he said, remarking that the ‘safe’ gloss products sold in high street outlets are packaged as familiar household goods such as washing powder or plant food.

‘The only people who benefit from these drug outlets are the operators and the landlords who get the rent,’ said Deputy Doyle.