OVER 1,000 Limerick schoolchildren yesterday took part in an antidrugs rally. A Bus Eireann fleet and Army trucks ferried the children to the Bunratty Convention Centre, where they were entertained by bands and dancers and spot prizes were won.
The demonstration, for sixth class pupils from city primary schools, was called "The High On Life Project". Each child signed an anti drugs pledge.
The event was organised by the Limerick Drugs Squad, Henry Street, and voluntary organisations.
One of the organisers, Democratic Left councillor Mr John Ryan, said they had been planning the occasion for a year. "Young people aged from 12 to 14 are being offered cannabis and ecstasy. People are selling drugs out of windows in housing estates in Limerick," he claimed.
The aim of the project was to get the dangers of drugs across to the children before they went into second level and moved away from their immediate environment and community.
A member of Limerick Drugs Squad, Det Garda Oliver Stapleton, said Limerick had a drugs problem like any other major city in the country. "It is a serious problem, but is not out of control.
Gardai have had much success in recent times in seizing large quantities of drugs, such as ecstasy, cannabis resin, LSD and speed," he said.
There will now be follow up drugs awareness campaigns in schools in the city. This is the first such demonstration of its kind and the group sees it as a model which could be used by the rest of the State.