GARDAI yesterday searched two apartments in north Dublin associated with the notorious drugs dealer known as "the Boxer in Mountjoy Square were searched by officers from the north central divisional drug unit as part of an on going operation. It is understood that they are occupied by people with personal connections to the drugs dealer. No arrests or seizures were made.
The unit has recently stepped up patrols in north Dublin including the Summerhill area off Gardiner Street, where three men were arrested at the Mountain View Court flat complex last Wednesday on drugs charges.
Following the arrests, residents set fire to the car of one of the arrested men. Clashes between riot police and residents followed, and one woman was treated in hospital. Two of the arrested men were subsequently evicted from their flats by local residents.
One of the evicted men Mr Daniel Shine (26), is in custody in Mountjoy Prison. He is due to appear in the district court next Friday on drugs charges. He was arrested last Friday on a bench warrant after failing to appear in court the previous day.
A bench warrant has also been issued for the arrest of a second man, Mr Nigel Brady (22), who also failed to appear in court. The third man, Mr Mark Doyle (32), has been released on bail and is due to appear in court, in October on charges of possessing drugs with intention to supply.
Drug unit officers have also searched several premises in O'Devaney Gardens and the North Circular Road within the past five weeks, following complaints by residents of increased drug dealing.
Two men were arrested on Saturday after small quantities of cannabis and heroin were seized in Sackville Avenue, north Dublin, and the North Circular Road.
A flat in Sheriff Street was searched early on Saturday and an apartment in Phoenix Court, off the North Circular Road, was searched yesterday.
Four Dublin men arrested after gardai seized drugs worth £12,000 in Belvedere Place and Mountjoy Square on Saturday night were released on bail yesterday. They are due to appear in Dun Laoghaire District Court on October 7th on charges relating to the possession and supply of drugs. They were: Mr David Gordon (19) from Mountjoy Square; Mr Brian O'Doherty (25) from Chapel Road, Greystones; Mr Mark Temple (24) from Ardeevin Avenue in Lucan; and Mr Caelen King (24) from Booterstown Avenue, Blackrock.
The Inner City Organisations Network (ICON) is holding a meeting in Rutland Street School on Thursday to discuss setting up Tenants' Associations in the Summerhill/Sean MacDermott Street area. The meeting follows a highly charged anti drugs meeting and a march of some 500 residents last Thursday, also organised by ICON.
The Killinardin Against Drugs Committee in west Tallaght will hold a meeting in the local community centre at 8 p.m. tonight, to be followed by an anti drugs protest outside the house of an alleged drug dealer in a neighbouring area.