AROUND 500 people attended a march in Summerhill, north Dublin, last night to protest at the worsening drug situation in the area. The peaceful march followed a charged meeting in Rutland Street primary school of some 400 residents who accused riot police of brutality during disturbances on Wednesday night outside the Mountain View Court flats complex.
The disturbances, involving 250 residents, broke out after local youths threw stones and bottles and set fire to the car of an alleged drug dealer. Gardai from the area's drug unit had earlier arrested three alleged drug dealers in the flats.
The Summerhill area was sealed off to traffic and 25 gardai, some in riot gear and with dogs, moved in to disperse residents who had been watching the events.
Speakers at last night's meeting, including local politicians and anti drug activists from other city areas, were highly critical of the gardai's handling of Wednesday night's disturbances.
Supt Bryan O'Higgins, from the Garda Press Office, had earlier defended the actions of gardai. "There was a serious disturbance and order had to be restored." He said public complaints arising from the incident would be investigated thoroughly.
The sergeant in charge of the north central divisional drug unit, Det Sgt John O'Driscoll, appealed to people at the meeting not to allow Wednesday night's violence to drive a wedge between the community and his officers. To do so, he said, would be "a victory for the drug barons".
Sgt O'Driscoll said his unit had concentrated resources on tackling drugs in the area and appealed for a continuation of the "exceptional" level of community support for it to continue this work.
The area's TD, Mr Tony Gregory, warned that residents were so "desperate" that they could resort to vigilante activity if firm action was not taken against drug dealers.
Local TD Mr Joe Costello and Sinn Fein councillor, Mr Christy Burke, called for an inquiry into the gardai's handling of the disturbances.
Last night's meeting, which was organised five weeks ago by the Inner City Organisations Network (ICON), was also told that a local 22 year old and former heroin addict, Mr Richard McGeehan, from Grenville Lane, had died that day from a suspected overdose.
The meeting was attended by local gardai as well as representatives from anti drug groups in Tallaght, Finglas, Cabra, Blanchardstown and Ballymun. Local people claimed there were drug dealers present and the man known as the Monk was at the meeting.
A minute's silence was held for all those affected by the drug problem in the area and a group joined the crowd outside who could not fit into the hall for a march to St Joseph's Mansions.
. The three men arrested on Wednesday were charged with possession of drugs with intention to supply. A 32 year old man from Mountain View Court was remanded on bail for eight weeks by Dublin District court. Bench warrants were issued for the arrest of the other two men, aged 26 and 22, when they did not appear in court. A small quantity of heroin was seized in the raids.