Fr McVerry to call for drug posession to be legalised

HOMELESS campaigner Fr Peter McVerry will join senators Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Lynn Ruane in calling for decriminalisation of drug possession this morning.

All three want to make it legal to carry any type of drug for personal use – which made up 72% of all drug convictions last year.

The three are due to argue at a press conference in Dublin this morning that decriminalisation would lead to 12,000 fewer convictions per year, and that the tens of millions of euro saved could be spent on tackling addiction and poverty.

The press conference is being organised by CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign, which is calling on the public to make submissions to the Department of Health’s Working Group on alternative approaches of drugs for personal use. The deadline for submissions has recently been extended to July 13 following massive public interest with over 14,000 submissions received to date.

According to CityWide’s coordinator, Anna Quigley, decriminalisation would free up the justice system. ‘Significant State resources are tied up in dealing with such offences including police time, legal fees, court time and that of the DPP’s Office. Most people would agree that this money and time could be put to better use in providing health and social services to those using drugs and in following up serious criminal gangs.’

The working group will present their recommendations to the Minister for Health and Minister for Justice within the next 12 months.