COCAD critical of court decision
By Michael Pierse
The Coalition of Communities against Drugs (COCAD) has reacted
angrily to a decision taken in the District Court last Friday, in
which three of the twelve anti-drugs activists charged in
connection with the death of Josie Dwyer in May 1996 were told
they would be tried in the Special Criminal Court.
The court, which deprives defendants of a trial by jury, has been
described by North Inner City SF Councillor Christy Burke as
``draconian'' and ``outdated''.
COCAD representative Hugh McGeown said that there has been no
explanation from the state for the decision to use the court,
although the defendants' counsel has made efforts to find out.
McGeown also asserted that this action is a ``clear indication of
a hidden agenda'' which has tried ``to break the anti-drugs
movement and deliver areas back to drug lords''. There is
simultaneously an attempt, he said, to link COCAD, which is the
biggest anti-drugs network in the country ``with paramilitary
involvement and in doing so criminalise it''. They said ``this
reflects a lack of confidence by the state in its case against
the accused''.
McGeown was defensive of the anti-drug patrols, which had come
under fire following the murder, although they were a completely
separate issue. ``Where the state negates its responsibility for
the protection of its children, then parents are perfectly
entitled to protect their families...communities never get credit
for what they've done''. Anti-drugs activists have emphasised that
these patrols were perfectly legal and intended as a peaceful
means of opposing drug-dealing, they were not in any way related
to the murder.
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