Drug dealing ‘widespread’ throughout Corkagh Park
GARDAI have appealed to the public for more time to deal with the drug dealing problem at Corkagh Park.
It is an issue that comes up again and again in the community and at local policing forums, with senior gardai acknowledging there is an element of “whack-a-mole” in terms of their efforts to curb drug dealing in the district.
Ever since garda operations were successful in tackling organised crime at the Grand Canal and in St Cuthbert’s Park, drug dealing has moved to places like Corkagh Park, with its wide open spaces and escape routes attractive for dealers.
Over the last year, residents have reported the issue is more out in the open, and not just confined to the Oil Mill/Cherrywood side of the park.
The park itself is popular and South Dublin County Council plan on spending millions to rebrand and enhance the amenity as a major regional destination, including the introduction of markets, a café, and a year round indoor facility to stage events.
“When you move it from the canal, we know it’s going to pop up somewhere else, then we move it from there, and it goes into a housing estate, and we move it from the housing estate and it pops up in the park or something,” said Blanchardstown Chief Superintendent Finbarr Murphy.
Speaking at the JPC Policing Meeting, Chief Supt Murphy said it takes a “period of time” to readjust when dealing moves to a new area.
“I can assure you that Supt Twomey (Clondalkin Garda Supt), has been onto me, we have had discussions and we have a plan in place.
This often takes a period of time for us to reinfiltrate the process.
“Sometimes it can become a little more chaotic for us because, when you look at the pattern of drug dealing, you can make a plan, but when it moves into a new area it becomes chaotic for the dealers.
It then settles into a pattern and at that point we can find the sources, where they are moving it from and dealing.”
TD Mark Ward (SF) said the issue now seems to be “widespread throughout the park” and it has led to park users being “nervous” when they use the amenity.
“Where we had residents living in close proximity to the park contacting us on a regular basis, we are now getting park users who are just using the park for normal recreational activity, such as park runs, walking their dogs, and they are seeing this on an ongoing daily basis,” said Deputy Ward.
Chief Supt Murphy said it is a “key issue” for Clondalkin gardai and they will make efforts to speed up the plan, understanding public frustration that they “can’t see something happening”.
