Explosion of drug dealing near school causes concern
By Maurice Garvey
A SPECIAL needs school has been forced to implement security measures after an explosion of drug-dealing activity on vacant land beside their campus.
Scoil Mochua in Clondalkin, which caters for 73 children with multiple disabilities, has also stopped class groups leaving the building on foot during the day, to ensure the safety of students and some 80 staff members.
The entrance to Scoil Mochua in Clondalkin
The Echo understands dealers have recently been forced from the nearby St Cuthbert’s area, following an ongoing garda operation at the Sisk social housing development.
Over the last week, drug dealers have moved a significant part of their activity to vacant grounds beside the school on Old Nangor Road, which has led to daily cat and mouse games between gardai and dealers/users.
Of further concern to the school, is that some users are arriving in their ground by taxi, while trying to link up with a dealer, and at least one crack pipe has been found discarded nearby.
Clondalkin is recognised as a destination of choice for drug users from the Leinster region, to such an extent that local drugs task forces, gardai and Irish Rail started an awareness campaign earlier this year.
Vivienne Wynne Principal Scoil Mochua, said: “Our main concern is the safety of staff and students. A lot of the kids have intellectual disabilities, 50 are in wheelchairs, they are very vulnerable.
“Some were encroaching on school grounds, coming up from the country in a taxi, but I don’t think they know the area. We were forced to put security on the front gate.
“Gardai have been out to the site four/five times this week, but they can only do their best. It is playing out like a game of chicken.
“They have put spare tyres in the grounds to try and slow down gardai. It went from zero to 100 pretty quick, but I believe it is worse at nighttime.
“We have seen home-made crackpipes. The concern is that the laneway to the school is a lonely two-minute walk.”
Scoil Mochua have contacted parents, local politicians, and are requesting a meeting with Clondalkin Superintendent Brendan Connolly.
A private developer owns the site, and the school have made attempts to contact the owner, in an effort to clean up the vacant site.
Nobody was available in Clondalkin Garda Station to comment on the drug dealing.
