This article is from page 2 of the 2013-11-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
THERE has been a dramatic increase in the number of serious drugs offenses detected in Clare over the first 10 months of 2013.
According to figures released at last night by Clare Chief Superintendent, John Kerin, Section 15 drug offenses have increased by a massive 68 per cent compared to last year.
There has been a total of 74 Section 15 offenses in Clare so far this year – a 68 per cent increase on the first 10 months of 2012.
Section 15 offenses refer to larger quantities of drugs, which are deemed to be for sale or supply.
There was also a 29 per cent increase in Section 3 or minor drugs offenses, which rose from 154 in 2012 to 200 so far in 2013.
Chief Superintendent, John Kerin, told last night Joint Policing Meeting of Clare County Council that there was no town and village in Clare were drug dealing was not taking place.
“The big increase that we find is in drug cultivation, where some people are growing their own cannabis plants.
“There is a lot of that in County Clare. Most of the time this is for a persons private use but not always,” said Chief Supt Kerin.
“We have had an increase in detection this year – but it is hard to know if that is because of an increase in activity or better detection.
“There is no village in Clare that doesn’t have people taking drugs or selling drugs – there is no point in saying otherwise.”
Former Mayor of Clare, Pat Daly (FF), criticised the judicial system saying drug dealers are getting off on technicalities and judges are being too lenient.
“The gardaí are doing an excellent job but there is something wrong in the courts somewhere.
“There are a lot of people getting off on technicalities and I think that that is wrong,” he said.
Chief Supt Kerin commented that he could not comment on any decisions made in the courts.
“We don’t like to see anybody getting off but should a person be convicted in the wrong?
“You have to balance that,” he said.