Councillor voices concern over abuse of crack cocaine in Tipperary's largest town

A Clonmel councillor voiced concern at Tipperary Joint Policing Committee’s quarterly meeting about the worrying prevalence of crack cocaine use in Clonmel and fears the abuse of this highly addictive and potent illegal drug will spread across the county.

Cllr Pat English described the use of crack cocaine in Clonmel at the moment as “very worrying” at the meeting where Tipperary/Clare Garda Chief Supt. Aileen Magner unveiled drugs detection figures that showed €17,260 worth of the drug was seized in the former Clonmel Garda District last year.

In comparison, there were no crack cocaine seizures in Cahir and Nenagh Garda Districts in 2023 and minimal seizures of €40 worth of the drug in Tipperary District and €70 worth of the drug in Thurles Garda District.

Indeed, the Workers & Unemployment Action Group councillor said he was worried about the seriousness of the overall drugs abuse problem in his hometown, not just in relation to crack cocaine use.

Drugs abuse was a “total scourge” on society with young kids being introduced much earlier to illegal drugs. Heroin and cocaine abuse were also an issue in the town.

Cllr English made his comments during a discussion on drugs possession detection figures Chief Supt. Magner presented to the JPC meeting in Tipperary Town.

Clonmel and district accounted for almost 50% of drugs possession for personal use incidents in the county during the three month period between November 2023 and January this year. It also accounted for over a third of of drugs for sale or supply incidents in the county over the same period.

Cllr English asked the garda chiefs at the JPC meeting how many officers were in the Clonmel Garda Drugs Unit.

He said there were drugs criminals and criminal families in Clonmel supplying drugs to a lot of the county and asked the garda chiefs assembled at the JPC meeting if the Drugs Unit was “sitting” on those criminals on a daily basis.

Garda Supt. Alan Cullen, who is responsible for Tipperary South Community Engagement Functional Area, responded that there was a sergeant and three gardaí in the Clonmel Drugs Unit at the moment that are supported from Cahir, Thurles and Nenagh if it’s required.

The Clonmel Garda Station based superintendent said the fact almost 50% of drugs possession incidents were in the Clonmel area last year was a “huge testament” to the work these officers did on the ground. He said their detectives were supported by a Crime Task Force whose officers were not answering normal call outs. They were doing search and stop operations and targeting criminals.

Supt. Cullen pointed out that gardaí have responded to complaints about anti-social behaviour in Clonmel town centre that were associated with drug use by redirecting resources that has led to some drugs seizures in the town around car parks.

He said he had met with local representatives of the council in the past few weeks and discussed with them the societal problems that come with drugs abuse.

Sinn Féin TD Martin Browne asked if gardaí had begun to come across Crystal Meth in the Tipperary/Clare Garda Division in light of the recent seizure of €32.8 million worth of the drug in Cork Port.

Supt. Cullen said they had not seen a whole lot of Crystal Meth. He acknowledged it might be the next thing coming down the road, but not yet.