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Loyalist admits UDA link to drugs | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A leading member of the UDA's political wing has admitted people with a "UDA background" are involved in drug dealing in north Belfast. | |
Frankie Gallagher also claimed women and teenagers were among those dealing in drugs in the Tigers Bay area. | |
His claims followed the death of a teenager who hanged himself days after taking veterinary tablets. | |
A doctor from the area said the drugs problem was now worse than at any time over the past 30 years. | |
Dr Sean Donnelly said the situation may be partly due to a greater "freedom" within society because to the peace dividend. | |
"There's definitely an awful lot more children being presented to me by their parents with the effects of drugs," he said. | |
There's definitely an awful lot more children being presented to me by their parents with the effects of drugs Sean DonnellyDoctor | |
Dean Clarke, 16, spent almost a week in intensive care after taking a drugs overdose - but after being discharged from hospital, he took his own life. | |
Frankie Gallagher, of the UPRG, said: "All of the drug dealing that's going on in Tigers Bay is by people in Tigers Bay. | |
"Some of the mothers are actually dealing drugs in Tigers Bay." | |
He said he accepted that UDA members were involved adding: "The organisation of the UDA is absolutely dedicated and determined no members will be involved in crime or criminality. | |
"Any people who are masquerading as loyalists who are selling drugs are scum. | |
"There is one person in particular, there's a number of other people in Tigers Bay, there's a lot of complex issues." | |
On Monday, Evangelical Presbyterian minister Robert Beckett said people were afraid as paramilitaries "remained untouched". | On Monday, Evangelical Presbyterian minister Robert Beckett said people were afraid as paramilitaries "remained untouched". |
He claimed police were not active enough in the area. The police said they were proactively addressing the problem. | |