‘Peddlers of death’ strike fear in Galway city

June 27th, 7:00am June 27th, 7:37am

News

The wholesale selling of heroin in Galway city centre by a Lithuanian drugs gang is causing terror among parents of students and other young people frequenting popular landmarks.
Judge Mary Fahy made her remarks after hearing the facts in relation to yet another Lithuanian man involved in the trade. “They are peddling death, there is no other way to put it,” she said.
“It is a sad indictment of our country that they think Ireland is so soft.”
Assisted by a Russian interpreter, Eduardas Tagijevas (27), of no fixed abode, had pleaded guilty to obstructing Gardaí in the Spanish Arch area of the city on Monday, June 16.
Garda PJ Noone previously told the court that he and other members of the Divisional Drugs Unit were operating in the city centre on Monday night when they observed the defendant at Nimmo’s Pier.
“We identified ourselves, and he placed a number of bags – suspected heroin – into his mouth, and began to chew and swallow,” the Garda said. “He refused to spit them out and hand them over, and none were recovered. He was given every opportunity to see a doctor (afterwards), but refused.”
The defendant’s solicitor, Brian Gilmartin, said that his client had been brought to Ireland four months earlier by drug lords, on the promise of a better life.
Judge Fahy did not accept the explanation, however. “I find it hard to believe that he had no choice – there must be other work in Lithuania,” she said.
“It is quite terrifying for parents to think that their young people can’t go out in the Claddagh area without being targeted… there will always be young people who will succumb.” She sentenced him to seven months in prison.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.