Councillors, TDs campaign against local 'head shops'

A concerted effort to rid Meath of so called 'head shops' is underway as public representatives around the county have vowed to do everything in their power to have them closed. At a special meeting of Kells Town Council last Friday, which was attended by the Gardai and local TDs, members heard that while legislation to ban the substances on sale in these shops was due later this year, the premises should be monitored by the gardai, the Revenue Commissioners, the planning authorities and the Department of Social Welfare. Meanwhile, a public meeting was taking place last night (Thursday) in the Headfort Arms Hotel to discuss the issue. The meeting was hosted by Deputy Shane McEntee and the main focus was on the existing headshops in the county, but there was also information on the dangers of the substances involved, on how to talk to children about these issues and how to spot early warning signs that a child may be in difficulty. Supt Pat Collins told last week's meeting that the gardai had visited the head shop in Oldcastle some time ago, took away some of the substances and had then analysed but none were banned substances. He said he had spoken to the owner of the outlet in Kells and he told him they wouldn't serve people under 18 years. He said that their hands were tied if the substances weren't controlled drugs, but the gardai could monitor who was going into these shops and one offence which was on the statute books was endangerment, where somebody could be prosecuted for engaging in actions that posed a substantial risk of harm. Sgt John Dwyer said that the substances involved were a stepping stone to other drugs. He said that bathsalts sold in these shops were a replacement for cocaine. Sgt Dwyer said that education was important so that young people would know of the dangers as many believed that as the substances weren't illegal that they weren't harmful. Cllr Brian Curran said the products were harmful and could cause severe psychiatric problems. "The vast majority of the people of Kells are opposed to the head shops and anything that can be done to stop them would be done. Cllr Sarah Reilly warned that in these difficult economic times there was a danger that people might try to escape their problems by using these substances. Cllr Conor Ferguson warned that these type of substances were a gateway to other drugs and he was concerned at the number of young people who would be introduced to these drugs between now and next June when legislation was due. Cllr Frankie Lynch agreed there was a danger that in some months time, many kids would have gone down the wrong road. The shops were described as a scourge on the community by Cllr Bryan Reilly and while the hands of the gardai were tied, they could still be vigilant and keep an eye on these premises. Cllr Tommy Grimes said that these shops were not welcome in the town of Kells and urged those involved to leave. Cllr Sean Drew said it was important to get the legislation right, but in the meantime, these premises could be 'hassled.' He suggested the revenue authorities look at them, the council look at planning conditions, social welfare officers should examine who is working there and he pointed out that it was the threat of public pickets in Dunshaughlin that had stopped one opening there. Deputy Mary Wallace said that these premises were monitored closely by the gardai and that legislation was coming to ban the substances currently on sale. She said the problem was that when these were banned others could come along to replace them and the labelling of the products was a consumer information issue. Deputy Thomas Byrne called for a revenue and VAT audit of all these premises, while Deputy Johnny Brady said that nobody wanted these shops. He said it wasn't advisable to rush legislation, because if there was a loophole in any new legislation, they would be back to square one. Deputy Shane McEntee stressed that Fine Gael would be supporting the government on legislation to ban these shops and substances.