
'Easier to get cocaine in Limerick than a pint', students tell author
Best-selling author Joseph O'Connor has revealed how students have told him "it is easier to get cocaine in Limerick than it is to get a pint."
His comments come amid growing concern that the city is now the "go-to place" to get crack cocaine.
O'Connor, who is head of creative writing at University of Limerick (UL), said students have highlighted situations where 'menus' advertising a range of different drugs have been dropped through the letterboxes of their houses near campus.
'Not unlike a delivery service, flyers have been put through the letterboxes of premises where students are staying with a kind of menu of what's available, to give us a call and we'll have it round to you in 30 minutes," O'Connor said.
The easy availability of different types of drugs in the city is something he said he finds frightening as a parent.
'If you are 18 or so, and if you're a first year, you go into a bar in Limerick, you'll be asked for ID. But that is not the case with cocaine. If you're a parent of university students as I am, that's a very frightening situation.
I have worked at UL for 11 years and over the years, the students have spoken to me mentioning the drug situation in Limerick, and how prevalent drugs are.
'Drugs menus' are also being shared on WhatsApp groups with prices ranging from €20 to €850, depending on the type of drugs or quantity, the Irish Examiner can reveal.
In addition to these 'menus', QR codes are being plastered on lamp posts in different parts of the city, including near Mary Immaculate College and on O'Connell Street. Those interested scan the code, which brings 'customers' direct to a website which promises a range of drugs delivered direct to their door.
There are growing concerns that Limerick is at risk of becoming the 'becoming the drug capital of Ireland' according to local Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan.
He said Limerick has became the 'go- to place' to get crack cocaine, with people travelling from other parts of the country to avail of the drug which is now easily available and cheaper than heroin, with a spike in addicts resulting in a 'Walking Dead-type' of situation in parts of the city.
Last week, gardaí made a number of arrests following searches in the city. Drugs worth over €500,000 were seized, along with €30,000 in cash, close to 200 rounds of firearms ammunition and other drug-related paraphernalia.
Last month, Owen Treacy, aged 28, with an address at St Ita's St, St Mary's Park, Limerick, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to storing cocaine, heroin, and cannabis in Kinder chocolate eggshells before selling them on the street. His sister, Stephanie Treacy, was previously jailed for two years for the same offences.
Read More
Former Ryanair pilot remanded over €10m cannabis seizure in Clare

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
'I just want him to be alive': Ukrainian mothers on Sherkin Island plead for end to Ukraine war
For Svitlana Babak February 15 was a day like any other… until a phone call alerted her to the tragic news: 'Your son has been killed by Russian forces.' Months on, she speaks through broken sobs as a translator tells her story. Living in the former Sherkin Island hotel - 2,000 miles away from her native Kharkiv - Svitlana is now the most homesick she has ever been. Her dream of returning to a safe Ukraine and having her whole family reunited has been crushed now that Oleksandr, the son who stayed behind to fight, will not be there to greet her. The closest thing to a reunion was at the military cemetery where Svitlana and other family members buried him some months ago. The sound of grief that day was punctuated by piercing air raid sirens - a painful reminder that nowhere in Ukraine is safe from Russian attack. Svitlana learned about her 44-year-old son's death while in her bedroom on Sherkin. News of the tragedy cast a dark shadow over an already overcast island. A recent 'We stand with Ukraine' event took place at the Sherkin House Ukrainian Centre and was organised by the facility's manager Alan McCormack and CEO of the Greater Chernobyl Cause charity Fiona Corcoran. Ambassador to Ireland, Larysa Gerasko was also in attendance, and spoke about her hopes for an end to the unrest. The ceremony concluded with a tree planting ceremony commemorating the loved ones of Sherkin residents who have died in Ukraine. Svitlana was among the 57 Ukrainian residents of Sherkin Island remembering friends and loved ones lost to the brutal war. Svitlana's daughter Alina and granddaughter Deana both live with her on the island. 'My son used to call me but he only had limited time to talk because he could never be sure who was listening,' she told the Irish Examiner. 'He usually just had time to say 'I'm alive' and that was it. "When he died it was the hardest time, especially when it came time to bury my son. Our manager is very supportive and there was a collection to help with the funeral. People gave their condolences and I can feel their support. They helped with permission so I could leave the country to attend the funeral. I want people to remember my son as happy. Oleksandr was known for his bravery. He saved the life of another soldier. There were crowds and crowds of people at his funeral. Every son loves their mother and every mother loves their son. We were no different. Svitlana shifts our gaze to the smiling picture of her son which is on a table close to the entrance of Sherkin House Ukrainian Centre. 'This was his last picture,' she tells the Irish Examiner. 'You can tell he was very outgoing. He had a lot of friends. It's impossible to live without fun.' She says while he fought bravely for his country, and his comrades, his legacy is little comfort. 'I just want him to be alive.' Meanwhile, Natalia Fomina from Kyiv, who is also a resident at the facility, said she longs for the day she can be reunited with her husband. Yuri is currently living in a centre in Limerick after leaving his role as an officer in the military in Ukraine due to health issues. Natalia is now appealing to officials so the couple can reside in the same accommodation centre. 'We lived together for 30 years. He has a problem with his health and I would feel much better to have him with me. He needs treatment. It's quite difficult. I want to be able to look after him. Our daughter Yullia chose to stay in Ukraine so it's just us in Ireland.' Natalia Fomina from Kyiv at the 'We Stand With Ukraine' event in Sherkin House Ukrainian Centre to commemorate those who passed away in the war. Picture: Sorcha Sweeney Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland, Larysa Gerasko, said Ukraine is still in dire need of support. 'We are still fighting and we still need support to end this war and end these killings of civilians,' she said. 'It's really very important to be vocal and to encourage your politicians to do more for Ukraine.' Fiona Corcoran, who was joined at the event by Cork county mayor Cllr Joe Carroll, praised the residents of Sherkin Island for taking their Ukrainian neighbours to their hearts. 'Each day the needs grow greater,' she said of the Ukrainian people. 'Until we can see an end to the fighting, thousands of vulnerable families will continue to live in appalling conditions and fear what tomorrow may bring. Today we stand in solidarity with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who had homes, security and normal lives until just over three years ago.' To support We Stand With Ukraine and the Greater Chernobyl Cause click here.


The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Easy 30-second trick could stop you being conned out of £1,000s – but you'll need to call your family today
A DEVASTATING scam that can cost you thousands of pounds in seconds can easily be blocked – it just takes 30 seconds. The only catch is that you'll want to get ready for it in advance. Advertisement 3 The cruel scam can look something like this when delivered over text Credit: Facebook One of the most common text-based scams out there right now is called It's also known as A crook will pose as your child and convince you to send cash in an emergency – but it's a total con. Thankfully, there's a very easy way to scupper it and keep your cash safe. Advertisement Read more on scams WHAT IS THE SCAM? City of London Police 's Action Fraud issued a major warning about the scam back in 2022, revealing that it had already cost users £1.5 million. "Criminals will typically claim to be a family member and will usually begin the conversation with 'Hello Mum' or 'Hello Dad'," Action Fraud explained. "They will say that they are texting from a new mobile number as their phone was lost or damaged and will go on to ask for money to purchase a new phone, or claim that they need money urgently to pay a bill. "The criminal will supply their bank details for payment, with some coming back on multiple occasions until the victim realises they've been scammed." Advertisement Most read in Tech Since then, the scam has only grown in popularity. In 2023, McAfee issued an alert warning of a "new threat" were crooks were using AI to carry out more convincing versions of the scam. Deepfakes more 'sophisticated' and dangerous than ever as AI expert warns of six upgrades that let them trick your eyes This even involved using AI voice-cloning tech to make the con work over phone calls. "With inexpensive and easy-to-use AI voice-cloning tools, fraudsters are delivering bespoke messages through calls or voicemails and fraudulently asking for help in the form of financial assistance," McAfee warned. Advertisement "In the past, those wishing to create these assets needed to have both the time and technical ability to replicate voices. "But applications and tools that produce near instantaneous, highly believable results are now just a few clicks away." 3 Crooks can deliver the con over almost any social media or chat app Credit: Getty The scam can turn up on chat apps like WhatsApp or iMessage, via email, or even over the phone using an AI-cloned voice. Advertisement And it can be highly convincing: Brits have already lost millions to the con, with thousands sometimes being taken in a single attack. 'If you receive a message like this from a friend or family member, don't send any money until you've had a chance to call them and confirm their identity," said Detective Chief Inspector Craig Mullish. "Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe." ACTION FRAUD – THE OFFICIAL ADVICE Action Fraud advises that the public follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign to keep themselves safe from fraud. Stop: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe. Challenge: Could it be fake? It's okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you. Protect: If you think you've been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at How to report You can report suspicious text messages you have received but not acted upon, by forwarding the original message to 7726, which spells SPAM on your keypad. You can report suspicious emails you have received but not acted upon, by forwarding the original message to If you have provided personal or financial details as a result of a suspicious message, or lost money because of a scam, you should report it to Action Fraud at HOW TO STAY SAFE – THE QUICK TRICK Of course, if a crook is using voice cloning or has taken over the family member's phone, checking with them through another method might not work. Advertisement So that's where the clever trick comes in. You'll want to call your son or daughter (or mum or dad) today and set up a safe word or phrase. It can be anything really – like a fruit, a place, or a date – but not something obvious like your birthday or hometown. 3 You might think you're talking to a family member – but it's actually a brazen crook Credit: Getty Advertisement Then whenever one of you ask's the other for money, you'll demand the safe word to verify the identity. Scammers will have no one of knowing this, as long as you haven't written it down somewhere on your devices. And it's an instant way to prevent the scam from going any further. It only takes half a minute to set up, and could save you from being conned out of thousands of pounds. Advertisement So give your family members a call today and make sure you have safe words set up.


Dublin Live
8 hours ago
- Dublin Live
Smart camera spying warning as Irish homes at risk by 'silent intruders'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Irish homeowners with smart security cameras have been issued a stark warning. Thousands of internet-connected cameras may be vulnerable to hacking, allowing strangers to watch inside homes and businesses. These cameras could be streaming live footage to anyone who knows where to look. A new global investigation has revealed more than 40,000 exposed security cameras online, accessible without passwords or authentication. While most are in the US and Asia, Irish cybersecurity experts say homes and businesses here are also at serious risk, given the surge in connected devices. The exposed devices, uncovered by cybersecurity firm Bitsight, include indoor and outdoor cameras streaming via unprotected HTTP or RTSP protocols. Many are still using default login credentials or have remote viewing enabled by default, allowing footage to be accessed, recorded, or even hijacked without the owner's knowledge. This isn't just about baby monitors or children's bedrooms. Exposed cameras can and have led to: Real-time surveillance of family routines for stalking or planned burglary. Monitoring of employees in small shops and cafés without their consent. Access to private medical or therapeutic sessions in home offices. Footage used for harassment, blackmail or 'creepware' sharing on the dark web. Anti-virus firm, ESET Ireland has issued an urgent 5-step checklist to secure cameras and prevent digital break-ins: Change default usernames and passwords immediately. Turn off remote access features unless absolutely necessary. Update firmware regularly to patch vulnerabilities. Buy only from trusted brands that provide encryption and updates. Use a firewall or VPN to shield connected devices from outside access. George Foley, Business Development Manager at ESET Ireland, said: "People buy cameras for peace of mind but when those devices are left unsecured, they become silent intruders. You wouldn't leave your front door open. Yet thousands of households are doing just that digitally every single day. "We've seen cases where people were watched over weeks until a criminal knew exactly when the house would be empty. And in some scenarios, camera feeds were sold or traded in forums. It's a complete reversal of trust.' Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.