Gardai available to help families facing threats over drug debts

Drug dealers are targeting the mothers of young people who owe them money with threats of violence, including sexual violence, last week’s public meeting of Dundalk Joint Policing Committee was told.

Inspector Ronan Carey, one of 28 gardai around the country charged with helping families experiencing intimidation over drug debts, said that sometimes the drug related debt could be as low as €500 although it could be significantly greater.

He outlined the different approaches which gardai take in helping families who have been subjected to threats, violence or criminal damage.

He explained that where damage has been caused to the house of a young person with drug debts or that of their parents, and if it is reported to the gardai, the gardai will then investigate it in the normal manner, gathering evidence, taking forensics and witness statements with the aim of bringing a case to court.

However, he said that there is often an element of fear, and people are afraid to report incidents to the gardai. In such a scenario, a programme has been developed between the gardai and the Family Addiction Support Network, which is based at Lios Dubh, Dundalk, so that with the consent of the victim, the FASN can notify the gardai of what has happened. This, he stressed, ‘is a highly confidential service’. People seeking assistance can also contact him directly or go to their local garda station if they so choose.

It is, he said, a ‘safe and effective’ way for families to seek advice and the gardai will support them in whatever decision they wish to make, as families don’t always want to pursue matters through the courts. The families would be offered practical and personal advice as to how to manage their affairs.

He said that the FASN works very hard with families in crisis who are dealing with addiction in the home, and that while families can feel they are the only ones going through such difficulties, that is not the case.

People can contact Inspector Carey through Ardee Garda Station at 041 687138, by email at Ardee.District.Office@gardai.ie, or make a complaint to the garda confidential line `1800 666 111 or Crimestoppers 1800 250025.