Latest news with #MisuseofDrugsAct1977
The Journal
2 days ago
- The Journal
How Joe Duffy shut down head shops (and why all drugs were legalised for one weird day in 2015)
AFTER OVER 25 years in the Liveline hotseat, Joe Duffy, one of Ireland's most recognisable and influential voices on radio, will hang up his mic for the last time this afternoon. From scandalising the nation after the release of Normal People , to '51551 Wash yer hands' , Joe has brought us countless iconic moments over the years. But younger readers may not recall Joe's instrumental role in Ireland accidentally legalising ecstasy and ketamine for a day. It was 10 March 2015, and thanks to a ruling from the Court of Appeal which deemed the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 unconstitutional, Ireland made international headlines for accidentally making drugs such as ecstacy, ketamine and meth legal for 24 hours. Okay, okay, it wasn't fully Joe's doing, but the court decision arose from a series of events put in motion in large part thanks to Joe's relentless and passionate campaigning against Ireland's head shops. Head shops began popping up at scale across Ireland in late 2009, selling potent drugs such as mephedrone and synthetic cannabinoids. These drugs were not illegal under Irish legislation at the time. At the time, young people in Ireland had become the biggest users of head shop drugs in Europe. A protest against headshops outside Leinster House in March 2010. Reflecting on that period this morning, Joe told RTÉ Radio 1′s Morning Ireland that he first came across a head shop while walking down Dublin's Talbot Street around Christmas 2009. 'I saw this queue at the shop, at a window like you see at a petrol station, and it was a head shop. Advertisement 'I hadn't a clue what a head shop was. I hadn't a clue, and I asked 'What are these guys selling?' And they were basically drugs they were selling. Let's be blunt.' Joe went on to explain how he mentioned it on Liveline on his first day back after Christmas in January. 'We discovered within two days, there was over 100 head shops thriving in Ireland, thriving. And then people start ringing in about the effects of this. We didn't know what they were selling, unregulated. Unbelievable. Making massive, massive profits.' Five months later, on 10 May 201o, Fianna Fáil Taoiseach Brian Cowen clamped down on the shops by declaring a list of over 100 psychoactive drugs to be controlled substances under the 1977 Misuse of Drugs Act. Taoiseach Brian Cowen announcing the legislation. May, 2010. It had an immediate effect. Gardaí raided head shops across the country and, within weeks, the number of head shops in Ireland fell from 102 to 36. Joe put this down to the power of politics, but also to the power of people on Liveline, who brought the issue to the nation's attention. The veteran broadcaster stuck with the story. In 2015, a caller, Paul Hodkinson, talked to Joe about the death of his brother Colm after he took magic mushrooms in 2005. Joe said his campaign against head shops was the only thing he's done over the years with Liveline that brought real risk to him. 'I was physically threatened twice, once in an underground car park by a guy who obviously owned a head shop and was out a lot of money. And another [time] I was spat at on Gardiner Street by another head shop person. 'But that's my job, I was trying to be mediator. But on the head shop thing, I did get very passionate,' he admitted. In the lead up to the government's clampdown, protests against new head shops were common, with some also held outside Dáil Éireann. Related Reads Joe Duffy leaves window open on Áras run as he closes door on RTÉ career Joe Duffy interview: 'We've more people than ever calling. The biggest decision you make is who not to put on air. That can be heartbreaking.' 'Now I couldn't go on any of the protests. But what I can say, there was a plan to open a head shop in Clontarf. Obviously, I couldn't go on that protest, but I painted every single placard that was used in that protest that day,' Joe recalled. Despite the success of the Liveline campaign, not everyone recalls Joe's interventions on drugs policy fondly. In 2010, calls to ban head shops were labelled as 'Joe Duffy-created hysteria' by then Labour councillor Dermot Looney. Protest outside Leinster House. March, 2010. Others, like criminal justice lecturer at Maynooth University, Dr Cian Ó Concubhair, take the view that Joe contributed to a wave of 'moral panic' related to drug use in Ireland. Despite these criticisms, research carried out by Trinity College Dublin in 2020 suggests that the closure of Ireland's headshops led to a drop in drug-related emergency room admissions. At the height of head shop activity in the first eight months of 2010, the rate of drug-related admissions were 9% higher than the same period in 2008. Two years later, in 2012, admissions were over 30% lower, with the decline beginning in June 2010, the month after the government passed its legislation. In Joe's own view, his campaign against head shops was Liveline's 'best achievement'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Second man arrested in follow-up operation after 3D-printed gun seized
Gardaí have arrested a second man in connection with the seizure of a firearm in Dublin on Tuesday night. While on routine patrol along Turvey Avenue, Inchicore, Dublin 8 at around 8pm on Tuesday night uniform Gardaí from Kilmainham (Community Engagement) Garda Station observed two males of interest entering a taxi. On stopping the taxi the Gardaí were met by a strong smell of cannabis. Both males were informed they were going to be searched under the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. One of the males was found to be wearing a ballistic vest and in possession of a substantial sum of money. As he was being searched, a .22 calibre pistol fell from being concealed in the ballistic vest. The firearm seized is now subject to full technical examination. Gardaí arrested the man in his 20s in connection with the seizure and detained him under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939 at a Garda Station in Dublin. He has been charged in connection with the case and is scheduled to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice (Court No. 4) on Thursday, June 26 at 10:30am. In the course of a follow-up operation on Wednesday, June 25, investigating Gardaí conducted a search of a residential property in Dublin's inner city. A second male, aged in his 20s, was arrested during the operation. He is currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, at a Garda station in the Dublin Region. Speaking about last night's seizure Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary said, "I want to acknowledge and commend the work of two uniform members of An Garda Síochána yesterday evening going about their duties diligently and proactively. "This was a timely intervention likely to have saved lives or prevented serious injury and is another dangerous firearm which has been taken off the streets of Dublin. "Gardaí across the Dublin region are on duty 24 hours a day, supporting local communities and working hard to An Garda Síochána's mission of keeping people safe'. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Two men arrested after Gardai recover 3D-printed handgun in Dublin taxi
Detectives are investigating if the 3D-printed weapon recovered in the south-inner city is linked to criminals involved in a number of violent incidents last year. Gun seized by gardai in Dublin last night. Photo: An Garda Síochána Facebook The significant seizure follows the discovery of two similar firearms in Tipperary recently with gardaí concerned at the 'significant' development. The Harlot .22 calibre pistols can be homemade using a 3D printer and can also be manufactured without a serial number, making them untraceable. Detectives are investigating if the 3D-printed weapon recovered in the south-inner city is linked to criminals involved in a number of violent incidents last year. Uniformed gardaí attached to Kilmainham garda station intercepted a taxi in the Dublin 8 area and searched the vehicle. A passenger in the car, who is aged in his 20s, was arrested on suspicion of firearms offences. The man has since been charged in connection with the case and will appear before the courts on Thursday. Gun seized by gardai in Dublin last night. Photo: An Garda Síochána Facebook News in 90 Seconds - June 25th Another man, also aged in his 20s, has also been arrested. In an earlier statement, a garda spokesperson said: 'While on routine patrol along Turvey Avenue, Inchicore, Dublin 8 at approximately 8pm last night, Tuesday, 24th June 2025, uniform Gardaí from Kilmainham (Community Engagement) Garda Station observed two males of interest entering a taxi. 'On stopping the taxi the Gardaí were met by a strong smell of cannabis. 'Both males were informed they were going to be searched under the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. 'One of the males was found to be wearing a ballistic vest and in possession of a substantial sum of money. As he was being searched, a .22 calibre pistol fell from being concealed in the ballistic vest. 'The male in his 20s has been arrested in connection with the seizure and is currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939 at a Garda Station in Dublin. 'The firearm seized is now subject to full technical examination.' One of the men arrested is not considered a major criminal but is related to men who have previously been linked to violent incidents in the Inchicore and Bluebell areas. The driver of the taxi is not suspected of any wrongdoing and was unaware that the weapon was being transported in the car. One line of inquiry is that it is linked to a dispute between criminals in the Dublin 8 and 12 areas which has been dormant in recent months following a spate of assaults and threats last year. A source told the Sunday World: 'This was great proactive work carried out by local uniformed gardaí and ensures that the weapon is out of the hands of criminal elements. 'It is a worrying and significant development. Criminals evolve with the latest technology and 3D printed weapons can effectively be homemade with the right equipment and are difficult to trace' It's understood in an unrelated seizure in Tipperary in recent weeks, gardaí recovered two Harlot pistols as well as ammunition. Only this week Europol warned that the use of 3D printed firearms had been observed in Northern Ireland and described this as an 'emerging concern'.. Speaking about last night's seizure Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary said: This was a timely intervention likely to have saved lives or prevented serious injury and is another dangerous firearm which has been taken off the streets of Dublin.'
Dublin Live
3 days ago
- Dublin Live
Man arrested after pistol fell out of his clothes during drug search
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A man has been arrested after a pistol fell out of his clothes during a drug search. Gardai stopped a taxi on Turvey Avenue in Inchicore at around 8pm last night, and were met with a strong smell of cannabis. Two men in the taxi were then searched, where one of them was found to be wearing a bulletproof vest. And during the search, the pistol fell out of his vest. He was also found to be in possession of a large sum of cash. The man, aged in his 20s, was arrested, and is being held at a garda station in the city. The gun has been sent away for a technical examination. A garda spokesperson said: "While on routine patrol along Turvey Avenue, Inchicore, Dublin 8 at approximately 8pm last night, Tuesday, 24th June 2025, uniform Gardaí from Kilmainham (Community Engagement) Garda Station observed two males of interest entering a taxi. On stopping the taxi the Gardaí were met by a strong smell of cannabis. "Both males were informed they were going to be searched under the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. One of the males was found to be wearing a ballistic vest and in possession of a substantial sum of money. As he was being searched, a .22 calibre pistol fell from being concealed in the ballistic vest. "The male in his 20s has been arrested in connection with the seizure and is currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939 at a Garda Station in Dublin. The firearm seized is now subject to full technical examination. "This investigation is ongoing." Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary added: "I want to acknowledge and commend the work of two uniform members of An Garda Síochána yesterday evening going about their duties diligently and proactively. "This was a timely intervention likely to have saved lives or prevented serious injury and is another dangerous firearm which has been taken off the streets of Dublin. Gardaí across the Dublin region are on duty 24 hours a day, supporting local communities and working hard to An Garda Síochána mission of keeping people safe." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
The Journal
3 days ago
- The Journal
Pistol fell out of man's bulletproof vest while he was being searched for cannabis, gardaí say
A MAN WHO gardaí searched after smelling cannabis in a taxi he was in had a gun fall out of a ballistic vest he was wearing, gardaí said. Gardaí said they had observed two 'males on interest' entering a taxi while on routine patrol in Inchicore yesterday evening, at approximately 8pm. The gardaí stopped the taxi, and were met by the strong smell of cannabis. Advertisement The two males were told they were going to be searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. One of the males, aged in his 20s, was found to be wearing a ballistic vest, or bulletproof vest, and a gun fell out of it during the search. He was also found to be in possession of a substantial sum of money. Gardaí seized the .22 calibre pistol and the vest and arrested the man in connection with the seizure. He is currently detained at a garda station in Dublin. The firearm is now subject to full technical examination and an investigation is ongoing. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
