HEROIN addicts are shooting up in a city neighbourhood leaving local residents deeply concerned after a child was almost jabbed by a used needle last week.
Residents on O’Curry Street cannot explain why drug addicts have been drawn to their area over the past three weeks but after a child fell and narrowly missed a discarded needle, they feel they have genuine cause for concern.
On a visit to the area last week the Limerick Post found syringes and other drug paraphernalia scattered across the street and shoved into a drain pipe. Residents were especially concerned about the health implications this had for young children. They also fear that it will also lead to an escalation in crime in the area.
“They are openly shooting up in the mornings and the middle of the day. We are getting no satisfaction from the Gardaí and when we called them last week, they told us they were too busy dealing with students and rag week to do anything,” said one elderly resident.
“People are very angry. Kids use this street on their way to and from school and something needs to be done urgently,” he insisted.
Another resident commented: “We are finding needles and syringes and morphine bottles on our doorsteps, on the side of the road and all over the place. In the last few weeks, heroin addicts have begun to pull up in their cars and started to shoot up for all to see at all hours of day and night.”
“One child was out playing on the street last week when she fell and just narrowly escaped landing on a dirty needle. People are very upset about this.”
Local councillor Maria Byrne (FG) who is involved in an ongoing community clean-up in the St Joseph’s Parish area said they had found between 30 and 35 syringes on the streets in the last seven or eight weeks.
“Heroin addiction is no more of an issue in Limerick than it is in any other major town or city. It is a serious issue but at the last Joint Policing Committee meeting we learned that heroin use in the city is actually on the decrease,” claimed Cllr Byrne.
“Our community clean-up goes out every Saturday and Sunday morning from the Dock Road to O’Connell Avenue and we are finding syringes and the very odd needle. We are seeing the problem at ground level and I have been in touch with Gardaí about it. Plain clothes detectives are monitoring the situation so as not to tip off the dealers and users. People might not be aware of their presence but they are out there and well aware of the issue,” she explained.
