ger in Ballyfermot
ger swept through Dublin's Ballyfermot when the news broke of
the arrest of two local anti-drug activists. The men were
arrested by garda in early-morning raids last Monday 9 October.
Alan O'Hanlon, a member of the Ballyfermot Concerned Parents
Against Drugs, and CPAD supporter Brian Quinn were taken from
their homes at 8am under Section 30 of the Offences Against the
State Act to Ballyfermot and Ronanstown Garda Barracks. Within
hours local people staged a picket of the Department of Justice,
with 30 CPAD members blocking Dublin city centre traffic for 15
minutes in protest at the arrests.
That evening, over 200 people took part in protests outside the
two garda barracks that the men were held in. The pair were later
released.
Ballyfermot CPAD activist Jimmy Delaney described the Garda
action as ``a blatant abuse of citizens under the Offences Against
the State Act'', and pointed out that the authorities have
arrested nine CPAD members under Section 30 and released all
without charge. ``It is clear that they are abusing the law to
update their files on the Concerned Parents,'' he said.
Phoblacht 22 October 1987
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