IRELAND'S policy of trying to take the ill-gotten assets from drug dealers was praised by the European Cities Against Drugs, ECAD. Representing 140 cities in the EU, the group held its first Irish meeting in Cork yesterday.
The group's executive director, Mr Torgny Peterson of Sweden, said community education and involvement were the key to ridding the country of drugs. He praised' the pilot project by Cork Corporation with other agencies, including, the gardai and the Southern Health Board, to educate people about the dangers of drugs.
The very high level of violence in Ireland was directly related to drugs and accounted for much of the crime in the State, he said. The official policy of taking assets from those involved in drugs was a very good one. "They can replace the drugs, but they find it more difficult to accumulate more, assets," said Mr Petersen.
He warned that violence must not be allowed to enter into community action against drug pushers, which he said was simply perpetuating the violence that was an inherent part of drug-dealing.
Mr Petersen said reporting on the drug problem was an essential part of the fight. "The tragic killing of journalist Veronica Guerin makes it very clear this is a dangerous business and I admire the' journalists in Ireland who have the guts to report on these people," he added.
Cork and Dublin are both affiliated to the voluntary movement' and the Cork director, Mr Con, O'Leary, condemned the statement favouring ecstasy made yesterday by Brian Harvey, a member of the pop group East 17.
"Someone like him has so many fans among young, impressionable' people that a statement like his is' a tragedy in itself," he said.
Cork city's Lord Mayor, Alderman Jim Corr, said the response from young people, local communities and schools to the corporation's pilot project was very positive. It was examining further initiatives and how they can be integrated with the Government's Task Force on Drugs.