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Louth gets new County Manager
Dogs play vital role in St Oliver’s Hospital
Mary retires from Realt na Mara
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Drug dealing now at alarming level
Wednesday, 3rd July, 2013. Vol. 6, Issue 27 • 63 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth. Tel: 042 9320888. Fax: 042 9329676. Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com
By Paul Byrne
DRUG dealers in Dundalk are brazenly flouting the law by openly selling their drugs in public all around the town, according to Sinn Fein councillor Kevin Meenan. Cllr Meenan described the situation as alarming and called for measures to be taken to deal with the problem. “I have received many calls from concerned people who are telling me that drug dealers are openly selling their drugs in broad daylight on the streets of Dundalk. It is quite alarming that so many people seem to know this is going on yet nothing is being done about it. “Can we not use the CCTV cameras we have around town to catch the dealers in the act and try and deter these people from blatantly breaking the law?” asked Cllr Meenan.
“In terms of these dealers openly selling drugs on our main streets and in estates it should be relatively easy to monitor yet nothing seems to be done about it. “I honestly think the Gardaí need more help with this issue. They are obviously overstretched and they need to be given more resources. I feel sorry for them actually because the man power just isn’t there to deal with these issues”, he added. Cllr Meenan who works in the town centre says that the problem of drug dealing in the area has increased over the last couple of years. “Years ago these dealers would go about their business covertly behind closed doors but in recent years it seems as if they think they are untouchable and they are a lot more visible around town. Continued on page 8
Shauna’s 40th bash for Down Syndrome By Paul Byrne Shauna McGuill from Priorland Gardens in Dundalk celebrated her 40th birthday in style as she held a Down Syndrome Ice-Cream party for over 100 people of her friends and family in her back garden. Shauna and John McGuill from McGuill travel in Dundalk hosted the HB Ice Cream Party as part of the campaign between Down Syndrome Ireland and HB Hazelbrook Farm which ask people up and down the country to host Ice Cream parties in their homes, workplace, creche or school. Shauna whose five year old daughter Ashlie has Down Syndrome invited friends and family to the party asking them not to bring a present but instead make a donation to Down Syndrome Ireland. See page 8
Shauna, Ashlie and John McGuill with Kellie and Sophie