About 1,000 anti-drugs activists laid a coffin and a headstone at the home of the mother of an alleged heroin dealer in north Dublin last night. The march, organised by the Coalition of Communities Against Drugs (COCAD), was due to have marched on a house owned by the man, who activists described as one of the main suppliers of heroin in Dublin.
But as it emerged that the man had sold this house in Artane last March, the anti-drugs demonstration took place instead in the garden of the man's family home. The man's mother and father, who are in their 60s, live there with other family members. It is understood that the alleged heroin dealer now lives in Britain.
The march, which set off from Donnycarney Church on Malahide Road, was led by an open top, horse-drawn hearse with a mock coffin and headstone.
Beneath an inscription of the man's name, the tombstone read: "Heroin dealer kills our children." It also said, "R.I.H - Rest In Hell." A man dressed as the grim reaper and carrying a scythe walked at the head of the march.
When it reached the man's family home, the demonstrators placed the coffin, headstone and wreaths of flowers on the front lawn.