“The drug trade does not stop at the border, and we need to know if any of that MDMA is in the north and if it is in Belfast currently.”
Green Party councillor Brian Smyth has hit out at the lack of information from the Public Health Agency after Ireland’s HSE warned that they suspect that high-potency MDMA is in circulation alongside MDMA powders being consumed in drinks.
Cllr Smyth was speaking after Belfast City Council’s party group leaders met on Thursday in the wake of two deaths of young attendees of the Emerge Festival on Sunday.
24-year-old Trae Keenan from Newcastle, Co Down died on Sunday morning after becoming unwell at an Airbnb in South Belfast. He had been in attendance at the festival on Saturday. 17-year-old Mia Keevan from Co Tipperary died on Sunday evening after she became unwell at the festival.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Cllr Smyth confirmed that he intends to second a motion from Alliance Councillor Micky Murray, which is set to call for drug testing to be introduced at festivals in the city.
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“Ahead of Electric Picnic in the South this weekend, the HSE have said that they suspect that there is a batch of a dangerous dosage of MDMA in circulation.
“The drug trade does not stop at the border, and we need to know if any of that MDMA is in the north and if it is in Belfast currently.
“We have a couple of large-scale events coming up, and we have a duty of care to keep people safe and to give them the correct information. The PHA have been missing this last number of days, and frankly, I think that it is completely and utterly unacceptable.”
Cllr Smyth said that it has always been Green Party policy that substances should be tested on-site at festivals and large-scale events. He believes promoters would be supportive of the proposals because they have a duty of care.
“I know for some, the idea of drug testing might be deeply uncomfortable, but that is the reality of where we are. We have got to keep people safe.
“What we are talking about is back-of-house testing, where if substances are handed over or detained, they are taken for analysis and if they represent a direct threat to life, this is communicated to attendees.
“We see this at festivals, and this has been happening for years at Glastonbury and Electric Picnic.”
Cllr Smyth said that he acknowledged that to introduce this testing, it would require a change in the legislation at Stormont but said that we are witnessing a “escalating drug crisis” across Northern Ireland.
“The public want us to be open and transparent but there has been a failure in the last number of days, particluarly from the PHA.
“On Belfast City Council, we have got to go back and look at our governance, we have to look at the procedures, our risk assessments and safety plans to see if everything was carried out. After these gigs, our officers always sit down and go through any issues so aI know that will be done in this case aswell.
“There has to be a bit of critical and reflective thinking here, not just on the PHA and the PSNI, but also on ourselves as the council.”
In a statement on Thursday afternoon, the Public Health Agency said that they cannot comment on ongoing investigations by the PSNI in relation to the recent tragic events.
A PHA spokesperson said: “We are aware of concern in the community around safety and wellbeing at events, so it is important that people take steps to help keep themselves and those around them safe.
“Taking unknown substances or taking something when you cannot be sure of the contents could cause serious illness or even be fatal. It is important to remember that it is impossible to know what may be contained in these substances.
“All drugs, whether it is alcohol, illegal substances or prescription medication, carry risks, and this danger increases greatly when you mix drugs, including alcohol.
“Mixing different types of drugs is unpredictable, can increase the toxicity of already potentially harmful substances and increases the risk of serious harm.
“The PHA monitors intelligence and information from a range of sources to determine if there are particular emerging risks and will take steps as appropriate to raise awareness, but it is important to emphasise that taking any substance at any time in a way which is not medically intended can be dangerous, especially as you can never really know what is in it or its strength.”
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