Clare District Court Judge has said there’s a drugs epedemic in Kilrush, invovling what he described as a mini-mart operating in the Tesco Car-Park, where Heroin is freely available.
Judge Patrick Durcan made his comments as he jailed a local drug dealer, Martin O’Brien for 18 months, following an undercover Garda sting operation, that has been compared to the Love Hate TV series.
Drug dealing in Kilrush was in the court spotlight for a second day in a row, as Judge Durcan dealt with the case of Martin O’Brien of the Bungalow, Wood Road, Kilrush who pleaded guilty to three counts of selling heroin.
Having already sentenced Mr O’Brien’s wife Valerie Power for similar offences, Judge Durcan handed down an 18 month prison sentence with the final three months suspended in the case of the 32 year old, as he appeared in court in Ennis yesterday.
Mr O’Brien, who has 37 previous convictions, is currently serving a seperate jail term, and according to Judge Durcan, he’s "one of the big players" in "a filthy pool of drug dealing" that has caused "horrific problems" for West Clare families.
Judge Durcan said it was staggering that the heroin was being sold in the Tesco car park and following his two years in the local district court he said it’s an "accepted fact that there is a very serious drug problem in the west Clare area, centred in a local sense in Kilrush."
Reacting to Judge Durkcan’s Comments on Clare FM’s Main Lunchtime News, one local representative believes the news from the district court is actually positive this week as three drug dealing convictions are proof that Gardai are winning the fight against illegal drugs trade in the town.
FG Gael Councillor Ian Lynch has complimented gardai in bringing those responsible to justice and called for greater supports for local people struggling with drug addiction.
He says much work is being done to improve the crime situation in Kilrush and called on anyone with information about the illegal drugs trade locally to contact the Gardai.
