The destruction of two head shops in Dublin city centre by fire in the space of a week is alarming for businesses close to the Galway premises, according to city councillor Niall Mc Nelis.
“In Galway city we now have five head shops in the city centre. Residents and businesses located beside these shops have contacted me today worried about what is happening in Dublin,” said McNelis.
Head shops sell products which are not covered by the Misuse of Drugs Act, but clearly mimic illegal drugs, and have damaging physical and psychological effects on those who consume the products.
Councillor McNelis says: “Because these shops are not illegal but are unlicensed and unregulated, and can sell their products to minors as well as adults, there is serious concern in inner city communities at the failure of the authorities to take action.”
He stressed: “Likewise, the media reports that €500,000 was found in a safe in the first head shop burned in Capel Street shows what a lucrative business is being carried out in these shops.”
The Galway city councillor worries that the criminal community that is involved in the sale of illegal drugs is taking a keen interest in the head shops, which could result in a turf war.
Councillor McNelis intends on taking action at the next Galway City Joint Policing committee to outlaw the sale of legal highs, and to prevent future endangerment of life, and destruction of property.
“ I will be calling again and supporting other requests that the Department of Justice, the Department of Health, and the Department of the Environment act promptly before there is a national proliferation of such unregulated and unlicensed shops selling dangerous products and before there are further serious incidents that would damage property and could endanger life,” concluded Councillor McNelis.
