Outrage as child (11) finds ‘drugs’

The little girl was with three friends when they came across the substance in the Pollock Drive area.

She brought the bag of white powder to a local shop and police later recovered it.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “On Sunday, 4 October, an 11 year old girl and three friends came across a small bag of white powder in a public telephone box. The children handed the bag into a nearby shop and police later attended and retrieved the bag. The powder will now be disposed of.

“In this instance the children did the correct thing and passed this on to a responsible adult. While we cannot tell what substance was in the bag, it is important that we remind the public to never touch or taste any unknown substance. The very fact that it is unknown should be warning enough!”

The powder was discovered not far from Dickson Primary School and Lurgan Junior High School.

The local PUP said it had been contacted by a resident whose young child and friends found what they thought was Mephedrone close to Mourneview Community Centre.

“This kind of behaviour doesn’t have a place in our community and we are saddened to think there are those living amongst us who would be so foolish to put our young people at risk,” said Mr Aaron Dowey who urged anyone with information to pass it on to the PSNI.

Ulster Unionist councillor Colin McCusker said the clear packet had a gun symbol on it.

“It was found in the phone box beside the community centre in Mourneview, Lurgan.” said Cllr McCusker.

DUP Councillor Carla Lockhart described the find as ‘disturbing’

“It is evidence that drugs are still all too prevalent in our society. The message is clear there is no place for drugs in our society and those that deal need to face the full rigours of the law.”

She commended the commonsense approach of the girls and their parents in dealing with the matter.

“The drugs were found in a very prominent place in the estate and this in itself is worrying.

“The girls immediately recognised that this looked like an illegal substance and therefore needed reported.

“I believe this highlights the need and the importance of education around drugs and how it benefited the two girls concerned.

“The parents acted very responsibly and it is now under investigation by the PSNI.”

“Mourenview and the Grey Estate are great places to live and this is a story that we do not want to hear.

“I would ask the community at large to be vigilant and report anything suspicious to the PSNI or I am happy to act as a conduit between the community and the PSNI.”