Fr Joe Gormley concerned over rising drug problem in Derry
Fr Joe Gormley said the premature deaths of young people as a result of drug-taking is occurring more frequently than ever before.
Parish priest in Holy Family, Fr Gormley was speaking following the deaths of three young people in suspected drug-linked incidents.
Police believe three unexpected deaths in the city last weekend were linked to the prescription drug, Pregabalin, or as it as commonly know as Lyrica.
Derry Magistrates’ Court was told earlier this week that a further five cardiac arrests in the city might also be linked to Lyrica.
Two further people have been hospitalised since the weekend as a result of suspected Lyrica use.
A man and woman were taken to hospital by ambulance from a city centre address.
Police believe an extra-strong form of the drug has been circulating in the north west in recent days.
Lyrica is used in the treatment neuropathic pain, epilepsy and anxiety.
However, police in Derry believe a batch of the drug which is four times normal strength is circulating among local drug users.
In April 2019, Fr Gormley became widely known for tending to the critically wounded Lyra McKee who was shot dead by the New IRA in Derry’s Creggan while observing an orchestrated riot.
Fr Gormley told UTV news he was concerned at the impact of increasing drug use in the city.
He said: “I believe it’s a problem which in my experience as a priest here in the city is growing.
“The premature deaths of young people in events like this (last weekend’s tragic deaths) is happening more frequently.”
Fr Gormley said he has buried too many young people in the city because of drug misuse.
He said the pain of each death was unique to the families involved.
He added that while people might want to “run away” from the problem it could only be dealt with if the whole of society worked together.
Tags: