Parents Pushing Drug Dealers out of Dublin City, Ireland 1984

Action of concerned parents against drugs groups not welcomed by self-proclaimed ordinary criminals. Concerned Parents Against Drugs (CPAD), an anti-drugs group succeeded in pushing the drug pushers out of Hardwicke Street on the Northside of Dublin. Other parts of the City took interest, copying the tactic of marching on the home of a known dealer and shaming them into leaving the area or stopping their illegal activity. In similar campaigns across the Liffey, drug pushers were moved out of St Teresa's Gardens and Dolphin House by strong local action in Dolphin's Barn. While successfully moving the pushers out, anti-drug groups might clean up their own areas but just move the problem somewhere else, A mobile floating problem shifting constantly. A few residents of Rathland flats in Kimmage tried to set up an anti-drug group but failed due to fear of reprisals against their families. CPAD issued an apology for marching on a house in Rutland Grove, Crumlin whose occupant was not a pusher. This issue has given rise to a new organisation the Concerned Criminals Action Group (CCAG). The members of this group admit to being ordinary criminals not drug pushers. Some CCAG members have marched on the homes of some members of the community action group. The circle of intimidation goes round and round. Two members of the CPAD with their identities hidden explain that concerned parents patrolling the streets interfere with the activities of ordinary criminals trying to get on with unlawful acts such as robbery. They refer to the CPAD as vigilantes and informers. They argue that the Garda Síochána is breaking the law by allowing the CPAD to operate. Ultimately, they do not want the public to carry out law enforcement as that is the role of An Garda Síochána and the courts. The courts will decide what to do with us. Reverend Brother Francis Keegan, principal of Scoil Íosagáin in Crumlin fully supports the community action group in his area. He was deeply concerned to see drug dealing taking place outside the school on Aughavannagh Road in front of school children. Now the CPAD patrols their streets for 24 hours a day. Brother Keegan is satisfied the patrols are carried out within the law and in cooperation with gardaí. As the communities in many working-class parts of Dublin take matters into their own hands, there is a very real of the situation escalating as, Drug pushers don’t like being pushed around. On 29 February 1984, almost 4,000 Concerned Parents Against Drugs and relatives of Dublin's drug-affected youth took part in an anti-drug march along O’Connell St in Dublin to Government Buildings to hand in a letter outlining their objectives. This episode of ‘Today Tonight’ was broadcast on 29 February 1984.