Dublin Communities Under Siege: Drug Gangs Turn to Intimidation and Grooming, Task Force Warns

Families in parts of Dublin are living in fear as drug gangs escalate their tactics, moving beyond violence to systematic intimidation and the grooming of young people. The Finglas-Cabra Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force has issued a stark warning that criminal networks are becoming more aggressive, leaving communities terrified and reluctant to seek help.

Evelyn Cawley, chairperson of the task force, described a disturbing shift in behaviour. “This is intimidation when someone doesn't pay their drug bill. The issue now is that the behaviour in addressing that by the drug groups has become more aggressive,” she said. “Families are intimidated because individuals are going beyond any kind of behaviours that would have been normal previously. It's gotten out of hand and families are terrified.”

The task force, which operates through an inter-agency partnership with Dublin City Council and An Garda Síochána, has now published its Strategic Plan 2027-2029. The plan, based on Health Research Board treatment data for an area of over 56,000 residents, proposes a “health-led” framework to tackle the crisis.

What is driving the rise in drug-related intimidation?

Cocaine remains the primary driver of treated cases, but the community is increasingly concerned about crack cocaine and nitrous oxide. Ms Cawley linked the volatility of users' behaviour directly to the substances being supplied. “Sometimes people have no way of knowing what makes up the drugs they are getting - it's a concoction of substances, so it becomes even more aggressive,” she explained.

Why is the State's approach failing?

Gary Gannon TD, chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs, launched the strategy with a pointed critique of current policies. “In communities like Finglas and Cabra, families and voluntary workers have carried the heaviest burden on the ground,” he said. “For far too long, the State has treated substance misuse and the social fallout that accompanies it as a criminal justice issue rather than what it fundamentally is: a public health crisis compounded by systemic inequality. This strategy makes clear that we cannot arrest our way out of addiction, nor can we stand by while criminal networks groom and exploit young people in our neighbourhoods.”

Ms Cawley echoed this sentiment, arguing that criminalisation only deepens the problem. “Nobody wants to see someone criminalised. That's not going to help the situation if someone is addicted. Prisons are full of people with addiction, it's not a helpful situation. We're trying to tackle the whole issue with a more positive spin.”

What does the new health-led strategy propose?

The plan focuses on faster access to dual-diagnosis mental health care and stronger protection for families facing intimidation. It also involves collaborating with agencies to intervene early in protecting children and expanding frontline training for volunteers who support affected families.

Ms Cawley stressed the dangers faced by those working on the ground. “It can be an aggressive scene out there even for our staff. Anyone working on the ground in areas like Finglas or Cabra must be aware of their place when they are out there. The behaviour is more aggressive.”

She also noted that addiction does not discriminate by age, with people ranging up to their fifties affected. “It's not just about young people, it's much broader than that. When you're in addiction, you're very vulnerable regardless of your age, and you become a victim to them. They will intimidate you, beat you up and send you to the hospital ward. And if they don't get paid, they are likely to contact your family and try and get the money from them.”

Is there hope for communities like Finglas and Cabra?

The task force's strategy represents a shift towards treating addiction as a public health issue, not a criminal one. By addressing systemic inequality and providing real support to families, there is a path forward. But as Ms Cawley and Mr Gannon both made clear, it will require a fundamental change in how the State responds, and a commitment to protecting the most vulnerable in our communities.