Liberty Focus

COCAD blasts Gardai comments

An excerpt from the letter received by theLiberty from COCAD

The Coalition of Communities Against Drugs (COCAD), have struck out at allegations made by Inspector Jerry Lovett of Kevin Street Garda station as being "completely without foundation".

Last month’s issue of the Liberty exclusively reported Garda concern that a COCAD cannabis resin seizure to be a Sinn Fein publicity stunt leading up to the summer local election. Inspector Lovett, went on to accuse the organisation of being "synonymous with violence and assaults on Gardai". Andre Lyder, Press Officer to COCAD replying to the article refuted these remarks, stating that there are "people of many different political persuasions, and none, active" within COCAD. Mr Lyder noted that the organisation’s constitution declares it to be "non-party political."

Mr Lyder went on to say to his that during his three year affiliation to the group he never recalled "any assault taking place on a member of the Garda Siochana either before, during, or subsequent to the event". The recent upsurge in drug dealing in the south inner city has stirred COCAD into action, commencing marches on the homes of alleged drug dealers. As a coalition of city wide anti-drugs groups, they are determined to tackle the incidences of drug abuse. They are rarely reluctant to highlight their campaigns in the media.

The continued distrust between these groups and the Gardai was commented on by Mr Lyder. He accused them of "attempting to undermine" community anti-drugs campaigns rather than working with them in partnership. The letter contained a passage saying that "it is sad to see a senior member of the Garda Siochana repeating all the mistakes of the 80’s ." Mr Lyder felt aggrieved that "the interception of some £30,00 worth of Cannabis Resin by community activists would have resulted in such a stream of vitriol.

The Gardai were not the only ones to come in for criticism in Mr Lyder’s letter. The Liberty was also castigated on a point of accuracy. In the March issue of this paper, our reporter, Ken Powell, described Mr Ronald Byrne, who chaired the meeting referred to in the letter, as "a prominent Sinn Fein activist." Mr Lyder pointed out to us that Mr Byrne is not, in fact, a member of Sinn Fein.

The editorial staff of the Liberty accepts total responsibility for the error. We would like to apologise to Mr Byrne for any inconvenience this error may have caused himself or his family.