Do the Gardas turn a blind eye to drug use in Dublin ?

Del2005

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

They are not comparible

Both are mind altering substances which can have negative effects on people who consume them. The only differences are one is illegal and other causes huge problems for society.

harry Bailey esq

Dr Brown wrote: »

If Junkies knew they were going to be arrested they would not be shooting up out in the open.

Yes they would.

hatrickpatrick

Dr Brown wrote: »

I can only imagine what tourists must think when they see junkies shooting up right in the open.

If was a tourist and I saw that I wouldn't come back to Dublin.

Why not, exactly? By and large they don't bother anyone.

Pixel Eater

People in Dublin have far too much tolerance for Junkies. It seems to be the accepted notion that these are poor, craytors which are somehow the victims of a cruel uncaring society, at the mercy of an indifferent government. But these are individuals who are involved in criminality, anti-social behaviour, who tarnish the civic spaces. They cause massive hardship to their families, friends and to society as a whole. They help fuel the various criminal gangs and associated feuds; they are utterly selfish people. A tougher line should be taken.

Lux23

Should we do the same with alcoholics? Because I encounter far more problems with drunks then I do with people using drugs.

Ash.J.Williams

Lux23 wrote: »

Should we do the same with alcoholics? Because I encounter far more problems with drunks then I do with people using drugs.

Ah feck off

L1011

Which gets more attention from tourists, drunks or drug users?

Plenty of people are put off returning by feral drunks in Temple Bar / Harcourt / Camden streets. Public drunkeness laws are never ever enforced and neither are rules against licensees serving drunks - they just try limiting opening hours like that has ever worked

Pixel Eater

Lux23 wrote: »

Should we do the same with alcoholics? Because I encounter far more problems with drunks then I do with people using drugs.

Absolutely if it's causing issues for the city and public in general.

Augme

Pixel Eater wrote: »

Absolutely if it's causing issues for the city and public in general.

Alcohol causes far more issues for the city, public and society in general.

Ash.J.Williams

Augme wrote: »

Alcohol causes far more issues for the city, public and society in general.

In the context of the discussion in hand it doesn't, people drinking in public is not a problem to passers-by . People jabbing their veins with needles in the city centre in front of kids is a problem.

Pixel Eater

Augme wrote: »

Alcohol causes far more issues for the city, public and society in general.

True but that fact does not exonerate illegal drug use in public.

Dr Brown

I passed the Garden of Remembrance again today and saw more Junkies shooting up its getting as bad as the boardwalk.

Augme

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

In the context of the discussion in hand it doesn't, people drinking in public is not a problem to passers-by . People jabbing their veins with needles in the city centre in front of kids is a problem.

In what sense is it a problem? Yea it might look the most pleasant, but that's hardly a massive problem.

Dr Brown

Augme wrote: »

In what sense is it a problem? Yea it might look the most pleasant, but that's hardly a massive problem.

Leaving used needles on the ground is a major problem.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Dr Brown wrote: »

I passed the Garden of Remembrance again today and saw more Junkies shooting up its getting as bad as the boardwalk.

Clearly not that much of a bother to you if you're willing to check it out again.

Pixel Eater wrote: »

True but that fact does not exonerate illegal drug use in public.

So, your only issue is the legality of it?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

In the context of the discussion in hand it doesn't, people drinking in public is not a problem to passers-by . People jabbing their veins with needles in the city centre in front of kids is a problem.

You've never been in Temple Bar after hours if you believe that, People jabbing themselves tend not to threaten or abuse others.

Dr Brown

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

Clearly not that much of a bother to you if you're willing to check it out again.

I happened to be walking by.

Dr Brown

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

You've never been in Temple Bar after hours if you believe that, People jabbing themselves tend not to threaten or abuse others.

Not true a friend of mine had a syringe pulled on him when a group of Junkies tried to rob him.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Dr Brown wrote: »

Not true a friend of mine had a syringe pulled on him when a group of Junkies tried to rob him.

Dr Brown wrote: »

I happened to be walking by.

My point entirely.

I said "tend not to", not "never did". I've been threatened with violence several times and once with a broken bottle by people out of their mind on alcohol. But I don't blame the guards for not cleaning the place up, nor do I want them locked up for five years. Nor do I go back to see if they're still there and still threatening.

Pixel Eater

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

So, your only issue is the legality of it?

That's a very obtuse interpretation of what I wrote. My issue is with the criminality associated with it. Why are you so eager to defend people who obviously have no respect for our shared public spaces and society as a whole?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Pixel Eater wrote: »

That's a very obtuse interpretation of what I wrote. My issue is with the criminality associated with it. Why are you so eager to defend people who obviously have no respect for our shared public spaces and society as a whole?

Fair point, but if the drug is illegal, everyone who uses it is a criminal. I know what you mean, though, with regard to drugs. In any case, decriminalising it would do away with the drug gangs. It's a problem that needs to be delt with, not pushed away.

I'm defending people who have an illness and are being threatened with jail for being sick, not what they do or where they do it.

Lux23

Dr Brown wrote: »

I passed the Garden of Remembrance again today and saw more Junkies shooting up its getting as bad as the boardwalk.

And what did you do about it?

Pixel Eater

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

Fair point, but if the drug is illegal, everyone who uses it is a criminal. I know what you mean, though, with regard to drugs. In any case, decriminalising it would do away with the drug gangs. It's a problem that needs to be delt with, not pushed away.

I'm defending people who have an illness and are being threatened with jail for being sick, not what they do or where they do it.

The criminality I refer to is not so much taking the drugs themselves but rather the muggings, robbery, anti-social bahaviour and degrading/damaging the public realm which is offen the consequence of doing so. And it it these actions, again rather than the taking of any illicit substance, that should cause them to be jailed.


Addicition is a serious affliction but it cannot excuse such behaviour nor can it absolve the person of responsibility or punishment.

Dr Brown

Lux23 wrote: »

And what did you do about it?

What should I have done ?

I'm not a vigilante.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Pixel Eater wrote: »

The criminality I refer to is not so much taking the drugs themselves but rather the muggings, robbery, anti-social bahaviour and degrading/damaging the public realm which is offen the consequence of doing so. And it it these actions, again rather than the taking of any illicit substance, that should cause them to be jailed.

Addicition is a serious affliction but it cannot excuse such behaviour nor can it absolve the person of responsibility or punishment.

Depends on the behaviour. If it's the stuff in your paragraph, then yes. But you're not penalising heroin abuse, you're penalising mugging, robbery, etc. etc.

If it's shooting up in public, then simply criminalising or threatening the user is a waste of time and helps no one.

Dr Brown wrote: »

What should I have done ?

I'm not a vigilante.

Reported it to the Gardai? Asked them what their policy was on it? Might not have done anything for the Garden, fair enough, but it would have at least answered the question in your title.

Dr Brown

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

Depends on the behaviour. If it's the stuff in your paragraph, then yes. But you're not penalising heroin abuse, you're penalising mugging, robbery, etc. etc.

If it's shooting up in public, then simply criminalising or threatening the user is a waste of time and helps no one.



Reported it to the Gardai? Asked them what their policy was on it? Might not have done anything for the Garden, fair enough, but it would have at least answered the question in your title.

The Garda's know full well whats going on.

ED E

It's Gardai or colloquially "The Guards". Never Gardas for Christ sake.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Dr Brown wrote: »

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

Depends on the behaviour. If it's the stuff in your paragraph, then yes. But you're not penalising heroin abuse, you're penalising mugging, robbery, etc. etc.

If it's shooting up in public, then simply criminalising or threatening the user is a waste of time and helps no one.



Reported it to the Gardai? Asked them what their policy was on it? Might not have done anything for the Garden, fair enough, but it would have at least answered the question in your title.

The Garda's know full well whats going on.

That shouldn't stop you from reporting. Or asking about their policy.

If people complain enough they'll act. If they don't, they won't. Nothing comes from nothing.

Lux23

Dr Brown wrote: »

What should I have done ?

I'm not a vigilante.

Call the Guards, maybe?