Three Attacks on Members of CFAD

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Thursday April 30, 2009 23:04

by Mairtin Og Meehan - Concerned Familes Against Drugs

concernedfamiliesagainstd at googlemail dot com

Smears

Concerned Families Against Drugs is a community-based, radical and campaigning pressure group, that is committed to addressing the problems of drug abuse and associated crimes in the Ardoyne area of North Belfast.
Formed in September, 2008. Our aim is to build an effective anti-drug campaign, organising protests, political lobbying and raising public awareness about the links between drugs and criminality.

CFAD have worked consistently to reclaim our community. We consist of parents, residents and community activists who wish to see a safer area free from drugs.

In the last few days, one home belonging to a prominent member of CFAD was attacked by thugs in Ardoyne. His wife and two young children were home at the time of the attack, when downstairs were smashed by hatchet-welding hoods.

The second attack occurred a few streets away, a short time later, when acid was poured over a car belonging to the sister of another CFAD Committee member.

The third attack took place when a member of C/CFAD was beaten and verbally abused by a gang of drunken youths on the Oldpark Road, while walking home.

These attacks are the culmination of numerous smears directed at CFAD and our ongoing campaign to rid Drug Dealers from our community. In spite of these recent attacks, the North Belfast News tonight printed more spin and lies about our group, as well as publishing a letter from convicted drug dealer, Sean (Cockroach) Cassidy.

We also acknowledge and thank Gerry Kelly MLA for his statement condemning these incidents.

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Comments (3 of 3)

Broader understanding required.

by goose - ex cocad

Sun May 03, 2009 14:20

being a dublin anti drug activist and former member of cocad(coalition of communities against drugs)i feel i can speak on this subject informatively with some experience.

the first i would like to say to any anti drug campaign group is dont paint yourself into a corner,that is a mistake that was made in dublin in the past.

take something from the comment posted from "horse" when he identifies cannabis activists and users as being targeted.this clearly identifies an issue of marginalisation.one might say to that"so what"but in the grand scheme of things cannabis based drugs are the least of your worries and the quicker any group reaches that conclusion the quicker it will get to addressing the real issues of addiction and supply without being side tracked.That said there is no need for veiled threats "horse."

"francis hughes"comments on the issue of distribution and states that cannabis and other drugs are supplied by the same people.this is effectively true as the drug industry operates like any other international importation business.however at street level differences do occur from dealer to dealer as regards the type of drugs they sell,that is where the conflict between the seller of cannabis type drugs only and the anti drug activist begins.the dealer/user might not necassarily know that his choice of drug which he feels is fairly or at least a less harmful drug in the wider community sense originates from the same source as harmful class A drugs.a process of education is required here and that is something which was lacking in previous campaigns.there are many examples of importers and distributers who have been caught with mixed loads and diferent drug consignments at different times,use these to emphasise the point.

more complicated

by francis hughes

Sat May 02, 2009 14:13

to the poster above. thats a weak argument. unfortunately the main people who bring in cannabis to the country also bring in heoin , coke n everythin else. its nice to think of hash dealers as easy goin hippy types but behind them is an evil exploititve greedy machine. i dont want this story to go off topic but just some food for thought. solidarity to the community workers in ardoyne from dublin

IMO

by Horse

Fri May 01, 2009 08:42

CFAD went against the youth of Ardoyne when it began targeting cross community cannabis activists and users. Retaliation will obviously continue until CFAD addresses this issue seriously and apologises for its actions.

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Three Attacks on Members of CFAD

Comments (3 of 3)