Athlone Institute of Technology has invited Fr Peter McVerry to speak at an event in the college this Monday February 10.
The founder of the Peter McVerry Trust will speak alongside Madeleine Johansson from the Socialist Workers Party on the subject of the legalisation of drugs.
Fr McVerry has a lot of experience working with those affected by drug use, and will speak about the effects of its criminalisation on drug users.
In 1979 he opened a hostel to address the urgent need for accommodation for young homeless people. Four years later he set up a charity called The Arrupe Society. Renamed in 2005 as the Peter McVerry Trust, the charity has progressed from providing a three-bedroom flat in Ballymun to offering a wide range of services catering for the needs of young homeless people.
Monday’s event has been organsied by the Students for Political and Social Change society, in conjunction with the Students for Sensible Drug Policy society in the college.
Mike Murray from Students for Political and Social Change will chair the event.
The talk takes place in the Earl of Rosse Theatre in AIT on Monday at 1pm, and is open to all including members of the public. It will be approximately two hours long, with opportunities for students and other attendees to ask any questions or make comments at the end.
