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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 12-year-olds 'affected by drugs' | 12-year-olds 'affected by drugs' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Children as young as 12 have been treated for the effects of taking drugs, a north Belfast doctor has revealed. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Mourners included nationalist and unionist politicians as well as the UPRG's Frankie Gallagher. |
| Thousands of mourners attended Dean Clarke's funeral | |
| 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." |