This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7083310.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 12-year-olds 'affected by drugs' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Children as young as 12 have been treated for the effects of taking drugs, a north Belfast doctor has revealed. | |
| Dr Sean Donnelly said the drugs ecstasy and diazepam were easily available on the streets. | |
| His comments came as thousands of mourners attended the funeral of teenager Dean Clarke. | |
| The 16-year-old from the Tigers Bay area of north Belfast killed himself after overdosing on drugs. | The 16-year-old from the Tigers Bay area of north Belfast killed himself after overdosing on drugs. |
| He had spent almost a week in intensive care after taking ketamine tablets, which are used as horse tranquilisers, prior to his death. | He had spent almost a week in intensive care after taking ketamine tablets, which are used as horse tranquilisers, prior to his death. |
| Dr Donnelly said the youngest child he had treated for the effects of drugs was 12, although he had heard of even younger children being involved. | |
| Dean Clarke's family blamed a UDA drug dealer for his death. | |
| Mourners included nationalist and unionist politicians as well as the UPRG's Frankie Gallagher. | |
| Pastor Brian Madden, who officiated at the funeral, earlier this week claimed drugs were easy to acquire in the area. He said ketamine could be bought for 50p. | Pastor Brian Madden, who officiated at the funeral, earlier this week claimed drugs were easy to acquire in the area. He said ketamine could be bought for 50p. |
| "While people may be in denial that drugs existed, while people may be in denial that drugs are not being peddled, I always knew that to be completely opposite to the truth," he said. | "While people may be in denial that drugs existed, while people may be in denial that drugs are not being peddled, I always knew that to be completely opposite to the truth," he said. |
| "I know people personally who are addicted to cocaine, I know people personally who are addicted to tranquilisers." | "I know people personally who are addicted to cocaine, I know people personally who are addicted to tranquilisers." |