terrifying | 

Drogheda sees massive rise in violent drug debt intimidation incidents

Women are bearing the brunt of the stress and violence as houses targeted and threats made

Drogheda Independent

Thu 9 Nov 2023 at 17:20

Smashed windows, petrol bombs, threatening phone calls; the drug feud in Drogheda may have dropped out of the national headlines, but for terrified families right across the town, the intimidation associated with drug debts is worse than ever.

According to local councillor Pio Smith, despite the magnificent work done by An Garda Siochana over the past five years in dismantling drug gangs in Drogheda, there has been a rise recently in reports of drug debt intimidation.

He also says, drug use in the town is the highest it’s been in years.

“The level of drug debt intimidation in Drogheda has significantly increased in recent months and I am working with three cases where mostly women are being terrorised in their own homes,” says Cllr Smith, who raised the issue at this week’s Joint Policing Committee and Drogheda council meeting. “I have reports from families living in a number of areas in the town that are being persecuted by local thugs demanding cash, or face being burned out of their homes”.

He notes the families involved are law-abiding people, with no involvement in drug use or the drug trade.

“However, this hasn’t stopped low-level dealers targeting them for money,” he adds. “Every week, the demand for payment increases, windows are being broken, people are being threatened with physical violence, and women are bearing the brunt of the stress and violence.”

One woman involved said she would like to tell her story to the paper so people know what’s happening in the town, but she would be too frightened of being identified and further targeted.

Cllr Smith says there needs to be a joint-policy initiative developed between An Garda Siochana and Louth County Council to help families to deal with this distressing situation.

“In my view, this should include considering prioritising council tenants who find themselves in this situation on the transfer list. Also if a council tenant is convicted of Drug Debt Intimidation then they should loose their right to social housing,” he explained to the November council meeting.

“I also feel laws need to be strengthened to enable quick prosecution of criminals involved in drug debt intimidation, as this activity is destroying the health and wellbeing of individuals and families, as well as costing families or the council significant sums of money to repair homes. “Drug debt intimidation directly targets children and females, as they are seen as easy targets. It’s insidious in its effect on people, causing severe mental trauma that can last a lifetime. We simply can’t allow this behaviour to go on and we all have a responsibility to find a solution.”

Cllr Smith Pio is also the Community Employment Supervisor with the Red Door Project, working with people in drug recovery programmes, and says demand for illegal substances in the town has increased significantly.

“Just because some of the major players might not be around anymore, doesn’t mean the problems are gone away,” says Cllr Smith. “The town is awash with drugs, and ordinary people are paying the price for debts associated with the problem.”