Published: Wednesday, 3rd March, 2010 4:57pm
Closure of Oldcastle head shop fails to halt protest march
by Ann Casey
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Local people taking part in Saturday's protest against 'head shops' in Oldcastle.
The people of Oldcastle came out in force last Saturday to express their opposition to so called 'head shops' and the 'legal highs' which they sell.
Despite relief in the town that a 'head shop', which opened there late last year, closed last week, the Oldcastle Drug Awareness Group decided to press ahead with the protest to voice their opposition to any further efforts to open a similar premises in the area.
A crowd of up to 200 people gathered in very cold conditions on Saturday afternoon at the church car park and walked around the Market House and back to The Square where a number of speakers addressed the crowd.
The chairman of Meath VEC, Cllr Tommy Grimes, said that schoolchildren could get their hands on these substances and highlighted the dangers of 'legal highs' to young people. Fergus McDonnell of Edenderry Drug Awareness Group also addressed the crowd about the dangers of the substances sold in head shops.
He said they could be sold to youngsters and, while they were not illegal, they were dangerous.
Carmel Reilly of the Oldcastle Drug Awareness Group said they had observed young people going into head shops. She said that, while there were none of these premises in Oldcastle anymore, the problem was still there and it was important that parents were aware of these substances.
She said a lot of people are only now becoming informed about the effects of the legal drugs.
Among those who attended Saturday's protest were Deputy Johnny Brady, Cllr Oliver Fox, Cllr Catherine Yore and Cllr Conor Ferguson.
Saturday's protest followed a public meeting in Kells last week at which public representatives pledged to make a concerted effort to rid Meath of head shops.
The main focus of that meeting was on the existing head shops in the county, but there was also information on the dangers of the substances involved, on how to talk to children about the issues and how to spot early warning signs that a child may be in difficulty.
Have your say. .
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John Reilly
Unregistered User
Mar 3 10 23:21
Comment: 2590
Jeez, I know it's Oldcastle we're talking about, but have these people nothing better to be doing?
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tommy
Unregistered User
Mar 4 10 09:05
Comment: 2592
while I don't agree with some of the products these shops sell, I also don't see anyone marching for alcoholics and people who die of lung cancer. I wonder why? I wonder is is lobbyists?? Deputy John Brady, thats a bloody laugh.
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Davey Byrne
Unregistered User
Mar 5 10 13:32
Comment: 2605
What do YOU mean "have these people nothing better to be doing?". These pushers are selling to children and I hope when you have children you will thank the protesters for preventing your kids getting their hands on these drugs. P.S these so called legal drugs contain rat poison and ingredients that are used in vetinary medicines.
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Caoimhin
Unregistered User
Mar 6 10 23:03
Comment: 2615
The way this country is going then why don't we ban Alcohol and all tobacco products... These do far more damage.. I really do wish people would get their facts straight before going on an uneducated rant.. Fact is.. These shops are not doing anything illegal..And no.. I have never been to a head shop or do I intend to.. But thankfully we still live in a relatively free country... JUST...
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tommy yorke
Unregistered User
Mar 14 10 23:58
Comment: 2681
Cop on Caoimhin-what do you mean"get you facts right". Your the uneducated fool here. I hope the gardai never call to your door to say one of your kids is laying on a slab in Navan hospital after taking these drugs that are banned in most european countries. Grow up!!!
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heset
Unregistered User
Jul 19 10 19:35
Comment: 3500
I do agree that yes, alcohol and cigarettes are major killers. I stopped drinking and I would be happy for fags to be banned too; maybe then I'd find it easier to quit. But I was into these legal highs and as far as I am concerned they are just as bad, if not worse than the illegal stuff. They are not only addictive but being easier to get due to being legal it is far easier to kill yourself. I nearly died from them. I think all drugs should be banned. OK so some people might be able to "handle" them (which by the way, all those who ridiculed me for being a lightweight are all still doing exactly the same thing years later, and have lost the plot) but drugs kill and there is no way of telling who will be the next victim till it's too late. Drugs destroy lives, end of.
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