Some people are afraid to protest outside head shops because of the kind of people who ‘may’ be involved in them, the February meeting of the Castlebar joint policing committee was told. The committee was debating the protest held outside the two head shops in the town last week, when Fine Gael councillor Eugene McCormack made this suggestion. “It was a good solid performance and we got on the national media and made a mark,” Cllr McCormack told the meeting. “It’s regretful that it is not easy for the public to come and stand in front of a head shop because of the type of people who could be involved in them.”
Fianna Fáil councillor Blackie Gavin agreed with Cllr McCormack. “I agree 100 per cent,” he said. “I know myself there are a number of old people who live in the area and they are afraid to put their head on the block, they are afraid of intimidation.”
The lack of members of the public who joined in the protest was highlighted earlier by Mayor Michael Kilcoyne who said: “We had a good turn out from the town councillors but I was disappointed with the numbers of other people who came out.” Cllr Kilcoyne also went on to say that the town council was looking into one shop, The Cosmic Closet, in relation to non compliance with planning laws in regard to signage at the premises.
Cllr Noreen Heston told the meeting that the numbers who joined the protest did not fully show the public feeling on the matter. “The amount of people who turned up to the public meeting and the amount of letters that have been received by all the councillors from concerned residents of the town shows the concern there is in relation to this issue.”
Both Cllr Kilcoyne and Cllr Therese Ruane asked Superintendent Willie Keaveney about the possibility of using section 74 of the Children’s Act which allows gardaí to take a substance from under 18s which may be a danger to them, legislation which was initially brought in to curb glue and Tippex sniffing, according to the councillors. The superintendent said he fully appreciates this is a major issue for everybody who has children and promised the gardaí would do all they can in relation to this issue.
