Keepwithinthelaw, anti-drugsgrouptold

September 1984

A WARNING that anti-drugs groups should at all times operate within the law was issued this week by Environment Minister Liam Kavanagh.

Speaking at the official opening of Bray’s new courthouse, Mr Kavanagh made a direct reference to the current ‘pushers out’ campaign organised by the local branch of the Concerned Parents Group.

He said that the problems associated with drug abuse had given rise to much concern in Bray recently and he emphasised that the gardaí fully welcomed the involvement of parental groups which were genuinely concerned with helping.

He went on: ‘ however, community groups wishing to take an active part in combatting drug abuse must at all times operate within the law and with proper regard for the rights of all citizens.’

He conceded that some people might see expenditure on new courthouses and garda stations as a depressing sign of the times, but he felt this was a narrow view.

The present century had been marked by great advances in technology and urbanisation and this had greatly added to the complexity of living.

Ninety per cent of the work of district courts was now concerned with road traffic and motor tax offences, the conditions for which had not existed in the last century.

He noted how the need for a new courthouse had been established by the continued growth of Bray from 3,000 when the old one was built in 1841 to almost 23,000 at the last census in 1981.

The caseload in Bray District Court now stood at over 8,000 a year and all this had pointed to the urgent need for the new building.