Anger in Tallaght over addict centre

Angry residents in the Millbrook Lawns area of Tallaght, Co Dublin, confronted drug addicts going into a reopened methadone treatment centre yesterday evening beside the local shopping centre.

The treatment centre was burnt in a fire 10 days ago, the cause of which is still being investigated. It is part of an Eastern Health Board-owned building which is also a dental and childcare clinic.

Local residents protested that some of the addicts were not from the local area and should not be allowed into the clinic. They had initially gathered to protest against a mobile clinic being used while the treatment centre was out of commission.

However, as they waited in front of the shopping centre for the mobile clinic, the EHB building was reopened and addicts admitted. There were angry exchanges before an agreement was reached that the residents would protest for an hour, after which the addicts would be allowed in for treatment.

Mr Tony Walsh, a joint owner of St Dominic's shopping centre, beside the clinic, said that the EHB building in Millbrook was not the proper place for the clinic. He said there were other sites that the board could use away from local residential areas. Residents and retailers were concerned that because the addiction centre planned for Tallaght village had been objected to, the clinic at Millbrook would become permanent and no move would be made to provide an alternative.

A local resident, Mr Tony Keane, said that last week "two girls . . . got their treatment and then collapsed down the road." He was concerned because his grandchildren came down to the shops in that area.

Last night, an EHB spokeswoman confirmed that the clinic had reopened. She insisted the board was still seeking an addiction centre and said the mobile centre was vital to ensure continuity of treatment.