‘Dealers target grieving families for unpaid debts’, says former Limerick detective
Sean Lynch has almost 30 years experience serving the southside
DRUG dealers are going after grieving family members to come up with unpaid debts, a former detective garda has claimed.
Sean Lynch, who has almost 30 years experience serving the southside, said: “Drug debts do not die with the person.”
If a person has died from drug abuse, it may not be the end for their heartbroken family, he added.
“The debt doesn’t go. If something happens, the person continues to target the family. Just because a person unfortunately disappears, it doesn’t mean the debt is cleared. It still festers there,” he said.
Mr Lynch, a former councillor has spoken out against calls to relax the laws on possession of certain drugs.
Last week, he told the Limerick Leader he feels this could lead to “zombies” roaming the streets.
He wants to see a drugs unit in each garda division across Ireland - and for each of these to be well staffed.
“It should be an officer, a member of An Garda Siochana in charge of it,” he said.
Mr Lynch, who lives in Patrickswell, says drug use in rural communities has increased exponentially in recent years.
To this end, he wants to see government create the role of a junior minister overseeing rural crime.
People Before Profit have led efforts in the Dail to have the laws relaxed around the possession of a limited amount of cannabis herb.
Its candidate in the local election for Limerick City North Ruairi Fahy says Mr Lynch’s description of those with drug addictions as “zombies” “dehumanises people who have a problem and need help.”
“It says more about the person making the claim than anything else,” he said.
“Decriminalisation of drugs is a good first step towards ending the failed ‘war on drugs’ which has led to huge numbers of unnecessary deaths and over-policing of the most marginalised working class communities in Ireland.”