Drug dealers are openly offering free bags of heroin to students in a bid to get them hooked, a councillor has revealed.
Independent Alan Lawes said the “scumbags” are brazenly dealing near schools and shops with teenagers as young as 13 being targeted.
And he is organising a public meeting in Johnstown, Navan, Co Meath, in an attempt to stop drug gangs taking over the community.
In a post on social media, Mr Lawes hit out at the “scumbags who are now starting to deal drugs openly on the streets”.
He added: “Not only that, they have been offering children heroin in an attempt to get them hooked on drugs.
“We all know who they are and as a community we need to work together to rid our community of this vermin.
“I am appealing to parents to work with the Garda and ring their confidential phone number 1800 666 111 and give them any information they have.
“If you have any information, pass it to the Garda or to me and let’s together take our community back from the small group of scumbags who are intent on ruining a great community.”
A public meeting is now being planned in the coming weeks because of the huge reaction he has received to his post.
Mr Lawes said: “I’ve been called by parents whose kids have been offered a bag of heroin – they didn’t know what it was. They feel like they own this area and can deal openly.
“We have to act and stop this. We are a community of 10,000 people and the dealers are just a handful.”
Crime prevention officer Sgt Dean Kerins urged anyone with information to contact the divisional drug unit, the Garda confidential line or make contact through private message at the Meath crime prevention Facebook page.
