Heroin needles found in Kilrea

While canvassing last Thurday, councillor hOisn was approached by a local resident who had come across drug needles and swabs dumped at the side of the Blackrock Road just outside the town.

Cllr hOisn said: "The gentleman told me that this was the third time he had come across drug related material in this area and he was sick trying to get the authorities to take the problem of heroin and other drug use in the area seriously.

"He was rightly concerned about the sheer amount of material and how easily children could have come across it. On this occasion, the man had taken photographs as evidence of how many needles and swabs were there."

The Sinn Fein man added: "I have heard that there has been some local denial of heroin use in the area over the years but Sinn Fin has always recognised that there is a problem.

From what I could see some people had a lot of heroin and other drug material and quickly got rid of this particular lot."

"We in Sinn Fin have a consistent record in tackling drugs problem amongst the younger population. We need an integrated strategy built on a partnership between communities, state agencies, including PSNI, voluntary groups and political representatives.

"This partnership must include education for parents and children about the scale of the problem as well as the dangers.

"I personally thanked the gentleman who was completely right to bring it to my attention and show me the material and I will raise this matter with the PSNI."