Recreational drug users funding violence that led to Waterford deaths, Minister says

Recreational drug users who use them “for their own selfish gratification” are funding the type of violence that led to the arson attack in Waterford which killed five members of the English family, the Dáil has heard.

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said such drug users are enabling dealers “to engage in the type of intimidation and violence that all of us abhor”.

Introducing a Dáil debate on drug intimidation, he said many people in Irish society are addicted to drugs and it is “very hard for them not to seek them daily”.

But he said they had to acknowledge “there are many people within our community who use drugs for recreational purposes.

“They are not addicted to drugs and they decide to use them for their own selfish gratification.”

He said he had an obligation as Minister for Justice to send them a message that “they are facilitating and encouraging” and “funding the type of violence that we saw in Waterford recently”.

[ Child (6) becomes fifth member of family to die after Waterford arson attack on homeOpens in new window ]

Six-year-old Elliot English, who died last Friday from injuries he suffered in the attack that killed his parents and two brothers last month, will be buried on Friday.

His parents, Philip and Kim, and his older brothers, Callum (12) and Jayden (9) died in the fire at their home on Birchwood Avenue in Waterford, when a petrol bomb was allegedly thrown at the house in the early hours of October 13th.

The Minister also appealed to anyone experiencing intimidation or concerned about a family member or constituent to contact An Garda Síochána..

Sinn Féin justice spokesman Matt Carthy called for greater efforts to be made to create public awareness of the services that exist. Calling for “much stronger supports for victims and families experiencing intimidation”, he said people need “to know that if they are experiencing intimidation, there is help available”.

In Dublin alone, there were 35 arson attacks on council homes in a single year, with families forced out of their homes. “Tragically, we have seen people die by suicide in the hope that it would end the torment for their families.”

Social Democrats TD Daniel Ennis said parents had told him about children finding drugs on the balcony of their flats.

They go on to appeal: ”’Whatever you do, don’t tell anybody. Don’t tell the police, don’t tell the authorities or I’ll be thrown out of my place. My place will be petrol bombed, will be torched’.”

“I was a kid that was saved through a good youth diversion crime prevention plan, through a sports club,” he added.

He said the €350,000 funding for the drugs intimidation initiative was important, but “you won’t get a two-bedroom flat for that”.

[ Only way to combat ‘drugs intimidation’ is to inform gardaí, Jim O’Callaghan saysOpens in new window ]