Trying to understand the relationship between republicanism and anti-drugs?

Godge wrote: »

If you go back to the 1980s, they set up a large number of anti-drugs groups. For a number of reasons, these groups failed to eliminate drugs in Dublin. The cynics said that the reason certain groups got strong was the failure of drugs gangs to pay protection money to the IRA.

Total nonsense to be honest about it. The groups set up were Concerned Parents Against Drugs in the 1980s and the more effective COCAD in the 1990s. While many individual Republicans participated in these groups and were instrumental in their operation, they were community-based structures not under the control of any organisation in particular. The IRA may have lent tacit support to them at various times but they also kept a distance. André Lyder wrote a definitive book on the subject called "Pushers Out" which is vital reading for anyone seeking more information on the subject.

The reason you have a smack problem in Ireland is mass unemployment, desperation, deprivation and the age-old issue of people wanting to get off their tits for one reason or another. The IRA or anyone else can't prevent people getting intoxicated like.

Likewise the lark about the IRA using it to take money off dealers is propagandist rubbish with no basis in fact or reality.

There is no doubt that in those times the hands of the IRA and their SF apologists were not clean on the issue.

Says who? The Sunday World? The Garda Special Branch? :rolleyes:

K-9 wrote: »

Mod:

Some posts deleted speculating about drug importation and naming an individual. Posters can pm me if they have any issues.