Garda chief discusses heroin blackspots in Galway City

Galway’s growing heroin problem is leading to an increase in crime and a threat to public safety, a meeting of Galway City Joint Policing Committee (JPC) has been told.

Speaking at a meeting of the JPC this week, Galway City Councillor, Niall McNelis, said that an incident last weekend had highlighted the inability of Council to deal with the issue of dangerously disposed syringes.

“In reference to the needles, two people were sleeping in the toilets in Eyre Square – the roads department were sent down and they said it wasn’t their job.

“The needles were left there,” he exclaimed.

Senior Executive Officer at Galway City Council, Gary McMahon, said that a lack of resources meant the Council were unable to provide a 24-hour collection service for disposed needles and other sharps.

“Our litter crews are trained in the disposal of these items but they don’t offer a 24-hour service – we don’t have the resources.

“We have, in effect, a 12-hour service,” he said.

Galway Division’s Garda Chief Superintendent, Tom Curley, said that while they offer access to a sharps bin at the Mill Street Station, Gardaí on the beat cannot be expected to pick up needles and carry them back – that decision is discretionary.

“There are a number of black spots for drugs in the city like O’Brien’s Bridge and the Salmon Weir Bridge – searches are carried out on a regular basis.

“It is an ongoing problem but it’s not just for me to enforce.

“I am not expecting a Garda to pick up a needle and prod themselves with it – there is no policy in relation to the gathering of needles that are found discarded,” said Chief Supt Curley.
For more on the heroin discussion at the JPC meeting, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. Buy a digital edition of this week’s paper here, or download the app for Android or iPhone.